Anger is a funny emotion. It’s natural to feel antagonism when you have been wronged. Expressing anger can even be a positive thing–it allows you to move negative feelings through your body or come up with solutions to problems. But
Relationships add meaning and fulfillment to our lives. Healthy relationships can improve your mental health by enhancing security, connection and happiness. However, toxic relationships can have the opposite effect, generating stress and conflict that trigger your central nervous system and
Emotional intelligence is a necessary skill for managing your recovery. It helps you understand the sources of your addictions, respond constructively to your triggers and manage cravings. Moreover, it furthers your growth in every area of your life. Developing this
Developing your emotional intelligence in recovery can help you thrive in every aspect of your life. This skill increases your resilience in the world. It helps you face challenges and balance the highs and lows of recovery. With emotional intelligence,
The brain is a remarkably adaptable organ. It learns certain patterns and repeats them automatically so that you don’t have to think about everything that you do. However, it can take time to reverse unhealthy patterns that have been reinforced
What is Mindfulness? “Mindfulness is not just being present in the moment. Mindfulness is how am I present in the moment in a way that aligns with my values? Knowing what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, whether it’s healthy
You often hear a great deal about the importance of healthy boundaries in addiction recovery. This term has become ubiquitous, but it’s still a vague concept for many people. Many people, including addicts and their families, don’t understand the difference
Recovery is more than a brief period in time. It’s the rest of your life. To stay sober, you cannot underestimate the value of consistency. Recovery requires a continual commitment. You need to choose yourself and your sobriety every day.
According to a 2017 survey, roughly 1.6 million American adults reported using meth during the past year. In 2016, the average age of new users was a little over 23 years old. A study supported by the National Institute of
If your picture of an alcoholic is someone who blacks out every night and does not know where they were the next morning, you are looking at only part of the picture. While many people who suffer from alcohol use
Dear Renewal Lodge Visitors,
My name is John Bruna, co-founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute, and more importantly, a grateful member of the recovery community. I am incredibly fortunate to have found my recovery in 1984. Of course, I did not achieve continuous recovery through willpower or my own efforts, but through the guidance and caring support of countless others that selflessly taught me how to live through the 12 Steps.
My journey of recovery brought this once homeless, shame-based, traumatized, insecure young man to a life far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I discovered self-worth, the joy of helping others, the gifts of parenting and grandparenting, and most importantly the ability to live a meaningful and purposeful life with integrity.
One of the greatest gifts of recovery is that I have the opportunity to give back and help others discover their self-worth, dignity, and the skills to fully live lives that they find truly meaningful. This is the inspiration for developing the skills of Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) to meet the needs of new generations struggling with alcohol and other substance use disorders. MIR is a set of evidence-based skills designed to help people fully integrate their tools of recovery in ways that are personalized, practical, and in alignment with their deepest values.
While we train counselors and therapists throughout the United States and abroad, I personally have chosen to work directly with the amazing team and clients at Renewal Lodge to develop the model MIR 12-step program for the nation. I choose Renewal Lodge because of the vision of its mission and the dedication of its team. Renewal Lodge is an extremely rare environment in which the staff embodies the very mindfulness and 12-step practices and skills they offer their clients. The results have been beyond my expectations. It is an honor to be here and I treasure my personal time with every client I meet.
With Gratitude,
