General

Holiday season can be stressful, trying, and expensive, but it can also be festive, heartwarming and rewarding. The key to having a manageable holiday experience is to treat yourself well and find a balance between things you want to do and things you need to or have to do. It’s very important to set limits on what you demand from yourself — and limits on what you allow others to ask of you. Allow yourself to step back from getting caught up in the commercial side of things. Concentrate on who you love, on appreciating others and tapping into your gratitude.

Read More

Positive visualization is a powerful and effective tool which can help you to reach any goal, overcome any obstacle, and realize any dream. One very important thing to remember about positive visualization is that the more specific your vision is, the better your results. Attain a relaxed mental state, and charge up your positive emotions — you can do this by listening to music that lifts you up, or by exercising — anything that increases your endorphins. Endorphins, positive emotions, and a feeling of serenity will turbo-charge your visualization.

Read More

Eleven months ago, I wrote a piece for the Free the Slaves blog. Free the Slaves is a global grassroots organization which fights modern slavery in all its forms — and makes a difference. I’m posting this link again on my website because I will not be silenced. Human trafficking is a terrible, insidious crime and must be stopped on the demand level. Trafficked individuals must be given a safe place to heal from the trauma. This holiday season, consider donating to Free the Slaves, International Justice Mission, SAGE project or Not for Sale.
Here is the link to my story: http://www.freetheslaves.

Read More

Kickass personal transformation is a journey punctuated with laughter and an increasing ability to recognize the humor in situations and relationships. Transformation, recovery, and healing are turbo-charged when you step outside yourself and embrace a sense of playfulness and joyful discovery. When you relax and take it easy, living life in the present moment, the beauty of life springs up to meet you on your path.
Laughter takes the edge off stress and pain, and engages both hemispheres of the brain. Laughter stimulates learning and enhances memory. A sense of humor dispels anger, increases optimism and elevates mood.

Read More

Through the process of kickass recovery and relentless focus on happiness and healing, I’ve accomplished a personal transformation, created a new lifestyle and discovered my authentic self. Sixteen years ago I was a hardcore drug addict living in a rat-infested shack, unemployable, estranged from my family, filled with rage and self-loathing. My driver’s license was suspended.

Addiction had been the central focus of my life for over nine years, during which time I spent a year homeless — sleeping under bridges and in abandoned houses.

Read More

Hello Indianapolis,
As a certified addiction treatment professional, a relapse prevention specialist and professional comedian, I appreciate the therapeutic benefits of laughter. One of our primary goals is to have the theater filled with laughing, happy people. We producers and comics are donating our services. In addition to encouraging people’s attendance, we need businesses and individuals to purchase tickets that we can give to people in recovery houses and programs throughout the Indianapolis area.
Our first annual Laff-aholics show will take place at 8p.m.

Read More

Bruce Lee was — and is — more than a martial artist. He is a cultural icon. He smashed through negative stereotypes, endured extreme physical injury, emotional stress, and major setbacks to emerge triumphant, a renowned martial arts champion. He authored his own unique martial arts form. This kickass gladiator was born with a sickly, weak body, but he didn’t recognize limitations. Lee honed his small body into a large, formidable weapon.
He aspired to make movies at a time when Asians were cast as meek gardeners and house servants — the Hollywood film industry rejected him.

Read More

On the journey to kickass personal transformation, every positive action develops confidence. Visualizing, planning, and discussing goals and dreams are part of your process — but action builds confidence in yourself and your ultimate goal. So allow yourself to realize that each small step is significant if it is followed by another small step. Often, the big leaps don’t present themselves until you’ve done ten thousand small steps. That’s okay! The key is to allow yourself to recognize each small accomplishment and celebrate it as you follow the path to success.

Read More

For individuals in recovery, relapse is recognized as something to be prevented as all costs. Stress management and stress reduction will reduce the risk of relapse. Conversely, when stress increases, so does relapse risk. Stress management skills are relatively simple and to learn easy to put into practice. Renowned research psychologist Terry Gorski, in his book, Learning to Live Again, writes, “People who have addictive disease are stress sensitive.

Read More

Faith is more than belief in something as yet unseen. It’s a fierce, tenacious trust in intuition; a knowing, an assurance of things not yet manifested.
When I act as if, I exercise trust and practice knowing that my hopes and dreams will materialize if I work for them. I may doubt from time to time, but that’s okay — doubts are checkpoints on the road of faith. I question, adjust my course, and strengthen my resolve.
Courage reinforces my faith in myself, what I believe in and what I am working toward. When I live in faith and courage, I live triumphantly and realize my dreams.

Read More