Transforming Suffering into Meaningful Service: From Addiction, to Buddhism, to Mindfulness in Recovery with John Bruna

Whether through small gestures or grand efforts, the act of helping others creates a ripple effect that can lead to profound and lasting change. Our guest this week has one clear mission for his life: to be helpful to others. 

John Bruna, M.Ed., is the Co-Founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute. He is an author, educator, counselor, and mindfulness trainer. In addition to successful careers in counseling and education, John is a former Buddhist monk with over three decades of experience working in recovery. John has presented at TEDx, Google, Facebook, and conferences throughout the United States.

In this inspiring journey, John shares how the worst day of his life - losing access to his daughter due to his substance use addiction - led him down a life-long journey of self-discovery, discipline, and mindfulness. Because of the internal work - learning how to have a healthy relationship with himself and finding peace in recovery - he got his daughter back years later and became the father (and grandfather!) figure he always wanted to be. 

Now, celebrating 40 years in recovery, John equips others with the tools to nurture new, positive thoughts, teaches them how to support the person they want to become, and helps them overcome negativity bias and remove suffering from their lives through mindfulness. 

Topics Discussed:

• Learning how to have a healthy relationship with yourself first

• Becoming a Buddhist Monk and working alongside the Dalai lama

• The difference between compassion and empathy

• How compassion allows us to reduce long-term suffering

• Recognizing every encounter as an opportunity for growth

• How mindfulness can lead to a meaningful life
  
  

Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute

• https://www.mindfulnessinrecovery.com/mirinstitute/

 

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About Positive Recovery Centers:

Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program wi