You hear the word “boundaries” get thrown around a lot in recovery circles, but what does it actually mean? And more importantly – why do you need to understand it? We’re going to dig into boundaries today, and our guests will share some examples of boundaries they’ve had to set in their own lives, as well as why it’s been important for their recovery journeys. Meet Richard, who works with youth and their families; Nicole, a sober influencer we met on Instagram; and Sean, author of Going Dry; and listen as we chat about everything we’ve learned about how boundaries affect our lives and relationships now that we’re sober.
“When you start setting boundaries, you get closer to peace.”
In this episode:
- You are the only one in control of your boundaries
- Defining and setting our boundaries for ourselves first
- Having a willingness to be honest with yourself
- Taking ownership of what you can control and are responsible for
- Growing up without boundaries sets the stage for our adult lives
- How to communicate boundaries
- Setting boundaries with people who don’t understand them
- Dealing with the pain of enforcing boundaries
- Practicing with boundaries by starting small
- Accepting boundaries with others with wisdom and grace
- Sharing the skills we learn in recovery with others in our lives
“If someone works up the courage to set a boundary with you, they really care about you.”
Sean Robinson – a 38 year old Electrician, Volunteer Firefighter, Father and Husband. Feeling depressed about his personal health and habits, he decided to make some changes in his life that would help him be more positive and healthy. Coming from a place where he felt he couldn’t talk about what was bothering him without ridicule, he kept it inside and tried to fix it himself.
Starting 2021, Sean weighed 320lbs, and reached his “rock bottom” and he decided to take a break from drinking alcohol. At the same time, Sean started journaling and kept a record of what challenges he faced and how he overcame the pressures of going back to old habits and routines. Sean challenged himself to be sober for an entire year and shared this journal in his book Going Dry – My Path to Overcoming Habitual Drinking.
This challenge helped change his identity and become the person that he never thought he could be on his own and while still sober, he is encouraging others to remove the things in their life that may be holding them back as well.
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/going.dry/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086376760527
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@goingdry
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-robinson-161723a9/
Website – https://seanrobinson.ca/
Amazon – https://a.co/d/h0eHMqT
Email – mail@seanrobinson.ca
tiktok – @goingdry
Nicole is the Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Saskatchewan, an organization dedicated to supporting women and gender-diverse individuals in conflict with the law. A staunch advocate for social justice, she believes in addressing the root causes of addiction and crime, through housing, education, reconciliation, social development, and community support.
With previous roles as housing manager at Kamloops Elizabeth Fry Society and regional advocacy with the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies, where Nicole helps to monitor conditions of confinement in prisons & jails. Hailing from Saskatchewan, she holds degrees in Sociology and Law from the University of Saskatchewan. Nicole’s diverse background includes personal experiences with addiction, incarceration, and recovery, shaping her into a passionate “recovery advocate” who openly shares her story to destigmatize addiction, raise awareness, and promote harm reduction, accessible treatment, and sober living options.
You can follow Nicole on Instagram @not_anonymous_nic
Richard has been a nurse for over 37 years in the fields of Corrections and Substance abuse and brings a single-minded passion to teaching the families of young adults in recovery how to maximize the tools they already possess, Re-build and re-structure the support network of people who love and care for them without guilt or shame, and make the threat of relapse a thing of the past. 2ndStarts.com is the culmination of that dream.
Contact info:
2ndStarts.com
RichardJones@2ndStarts.com
Facebook Group: Mothers and Fathers Against Addiction, Relapse, and Incarceration
Richard Jones on Linkedin
Get In Touch!
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You can also find Julie and Steve on:
- Navigating Through the Waves of Grief: A Personal Journey of Loss and Perseverance - April 7, 2024
- Our Sobriety Podcast is a Year Old!! - September 24, 2023
- Break Time! - June 29, 2023