Committing to a Mindful Recovery and Breaking Patterns of Suffering |A Conversation with John Evans

"Don't talk. Don't trust. Don't feel." Rules that were taught early and often to my guest in this week's episode. In this special interview, I connect with friend and colleague, John Evans, peer support specialist, musician, and Army Veteran.

Looking inward and breaking the patterns of suffering was a path John fully committed to in July of 2007. John experienced many adverse events in his childhood, including the loss of his mother, and addiction in his family. After joining the Army in high school, John worked diligently to reintegrate back into civilian life when he returned home from two tours in Iraq as a medic.

Thirteen years into his recovery, John intimately shares how his best days have come since committing to sobriety and working on his trauma. John explains, "Recovery means fearlessly attempting to unlock my potential, and being willing to reach for the life that my trauma would say, 'don't do that.'"

• An introduction to John – 3:09
• What's a hero? – 5:03
• Quoting the book, "A Year to Live" by Steven Levine – 15:29
• Recognizing resistance – 18:38
• The pain of losing a parent – 22:46
• Experience as a combat medic – 34:05
• Impermanence and healing – 38:07
• Waking up to thought forms during deployment – 42:10
• Identity formation w/ trauma – 44:41
• Victim role and attachment to pain – 48:00
• Every day is a gift – 57:25
• Trauma comparison – 1:01:21
• Accepting wounds leads to empowerment – 1:07:45
• What does recovery mean? – 1:11:20
• Life after substance, 13 years into recovery – 1:15:02
• Cultivating gratitude – 1:23:50
• Adhering to a spiritual practice – 1:29:12

 

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