What happens after you achieve sobriety? Is that the end of the road, or just the beginning of a new journey? In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, hosts Damon Frank and Kristina Dennis are joined by George Snyder to explore the continuous spiritual journey that follows sobriety. They delve into the concept that the initial awakening in recovery is merely the starting point, emphasizing the need for ongoing growth and deeper awakenings.

George Snyder shares his insights on the critical role of building a relationship with a higher power and the dangers of becoming complacent in recovery. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes and practical advice, making it relatable for anyone on their recovery journey. They highlight the everyday heroes who keep pushing forward, deepening their spiritual awakenings, and serving as inspirations for others.

The episode is a heartfelt reminder that sobriety is not just about abstaining from alcohol but about continuously evolving and growing spiritually. Whether you're newly sober or have been on this path for years, this discussion offers valuable perspectives on maintaining momentum in your recovery journey. Tune in to discover how to keep your spiritual awakening alive and thriving.

Join Damon Frank, Kristina Dennis, and George Snyder as they discuss the ongoing spiritual journey in recovery beyond sobriety.

Beyond Sobriety: Embracing the Ongoing Spiritual Journey

Show TranscriptDamon Frank (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=xKXolnVrbzEVqqNK-Ssj2tqej11DqeSa31xyxtQkBfTwUfffVIDtdsAReUU3xIVtlh6aT9Mi9mlLOrvXssc9mJ7bUHQ&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=2.61">00:02</a>): You're listening to the recovered life show the show that helps people in recovery live their best recovered lives. And here is your host, Damon Frank.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=PcKOJTn3xc08_oQUvoIK9vnnnx3PFmZUZ2HnrLgOjvY9PBT-fTO1ChDlPZHZ_eTh_9yHFitN95U5huGjsWNi23q14fE&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=15.38">00:15</a>): His name is Frank with recovered life, and I am back with my favorite, uh, life and recovery strategist, George Snyder.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=gQyPa8oToESny2_FY0vSh9FtEgqhHnACXNwN3pR4yCKNtI0z5aJMR6tZZnbYSOCF8-ohlPlnqEU5PkVJ_pj6vYUcFtM&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=23.87">00:23</a>): Hey, man. Good to see youGeorge Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=Lm5JkDBKWUosX7V5gcZkUDk9ZWxZMst74U60A15KhX_kGTqvGcQjVekwoaOPky_hyQ61Xe9smyM45iA1CUXMdxeugBo&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=26.84">00:26</a>): Really great to see you. Uh, another great talk we're going to have today here, and I love the topic that we're talking about and it's something that really, honestly, we covered a couple of times in the old school men's mastermind group. Um, and I think the way you wrote it, I think the topic is almost like a star Wars sequel SQL. It's not quite as good as the Mandalorian, but it's, it's good. And, and it's pretty clear. I give everybody the topic that you wrote. The awakening must continue. Sobriety is only the beginning. Come on guys. That's pretty good. That's ripped from the headlines.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=HVtwPxVreKcToHQLQueZBRl88QMfI6ifoSNRa1Lo8IKFUhX36-3mRJDraMfgNa1mhZVmGL0G2X10ZRdeArVzndCe4ag&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=68.63">01:08</a>): That's right. Ripped from the headlines.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=ySifYmaIrjT547HNs4v15sGm5WT2kar9bs2eclWxC8cXusr0i21EfhWK6SdbaNeaIDPAfTFjwtY78t2IF2h4Tj2MRsg&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=72.65">01:12</a>): Well, as long as you know, we, we like to have fun here, but we also like to try to get something out of these. And I wanted to kind of dive into what this means. The awakening must continue. And it's a lot about why, you know, the ideas I've had for recovered life and, and why both of us have been really passionate about this and other people that we know have been passionate about interacting and participating in recovery life is because sobriety is really the only the beginning. You know, most of the people that, that we know that we deal with day to day will be in recovery for decades, right? They've been in recovery from decades. So it's only the beginning and the first awakening is only the first awakening. Many more awakenings must continue. And, and, you know, I think if people are listening to this, the question that they might have, and this question I'm going to ask you is what is the importance of the spiritual awakening in recovery?George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=sIkFnNe88ML8fdNJHYiO-O0Z52z3tyJv5LL02_nEI-rCsEKjPJJXWtxv1t9SpbVEMrcLm62qsz-62w5M0NAPKOqj6tM&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=131.66">02:11</a>): That's a good question. I mean, I think as you said, and I hear people in recovery say, well, you know, sobriety is what you get. I, I think that is, as you said, it's only the beginning. It's a lot of people use architecture is a metaphor, you know, building a foundation and, and, but I, I, and that's not bad, but I think for me, a better metaphor is the journey. It's a journey, you know, rom Doss said, we're all just walking each other home. And really that's so speaks to my heart and speaks to me about what this is all a bit been about. You come into recovery and you do is kind of awakening up. I mean, I remember early on thinking, I felt like I had been peeled. Do you know, just so conscious after many years of not wanting to feel, not wanting to have any sense of being to suddenly be awake and wow. You know, but that's just the start. It's gotta be just a start. It's gotta be,George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=HeQk7PbC9aK_imAPf-Uu_573sH5IPihmwVCsNCQZE2cLp75oBatC5ZM7lf6fo-JYvIPhpP2xa2yUM2mEsHW505RKOog&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=197.91">03:17</a>): I think, um, I think one thing too, that you know, is always, you know, after you have been in recovery for a while, you start to, you start to realize when you're first in recovery and have these awakenings, you think, Oh, this has gotta be special to people who are just in recovery. And as you learn, awakenings have been going on with everybody for millennia. Right. But the significance of it to people who are in recovery is, is, is a, is a little different in the application about what we get out of it. Right. And you know, I, what I really like is the whole idea of, it's not really the first awakening we have to continue to awaken to enfold. And I'd love for you to hear your thoughts on that. And I know a lot of the guys, uh, added some amazing things to this that I had never thought of.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=QnQc0U-JZRZuHC7aEOToInoz6E7YOkrYgLHsebODlCMyfagBhgbK_lAk5QeqyMhx6mQByL7O5KAj_cPP7V9_V432ZR4&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=258.15">04:18</a>): Yeah. And, you know, as we say, this is not something that is not a process can be finished and done with, you know, and it was just recently talking to one of my buddies and he said, I didn't know, you could feel this way. And I said, because he sounded great and he's done a lot of he's done. A lot of work is a lot of in it's. And he said, I didn't know, you could feel this way. And I said, it's called feeling, okay, it's called feeling good. You can feel good. And that, for those of us who spend so spent so much of our lives, not feeling anything to awaken is to find out that there's a whole other way, you know, there's a Chuck Chamberlain used to say that, you know, we're a strange breed of cat. We don't, we can't see till we could see, we can't hear till we can hear.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=oCQNIRZ4dBgm7b7nXi7Ip9Wh-o6TyQFOa6FpBU9Cp8aSYO19xVl0AiDSjs_g6nNcDJeqUSlaQADPLC6NKmWnigIP6cc&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=306.42">05:06</a>): And then we do, there's a whole other, and I've said this to guys, you know, there's a whole other reality. You're just not aware of because you can't see it, can't hear it. And then you get into recovery, you get begin to put some time together and be around us. And you're like, Oh wow. Oh, wow. And I remember early on, I was walking with, uh, somebody and we're walking down the street. They had these little windup doubt, that little pink dogs that you wind them up in the street vendors, sell them on the sidewalk. And he had wound up a bunch of them that all these little pink dogs are bouncing around the sidewalk. And, uh, I wasn't really sure tell you the truth. I wasn't really sure what was happening. And the guy Lando, the guy who was, I was with leaned over and he said, they're really they're. Wow. Yeah. I was like, yeah, I know. I know, but I didn't, wasn't sureGeorge Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=YABQgqymJjImmqQ5ni_nCS52qCOUVkvsJSYuXbK96u2HMp1pV2I_uNKEtNMOIEQIiq5jXuk7MoLKYxr7j8ceHsufi-I&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=358.73">05:58</a>): You did. You didn't know. Yeah. I, you know, it, the, the thing that I really got out of the group with this particular topic was the importance of continuing your spiritual journey and the problems that you can get into. If you're somebody in recovery and you choose no more, I've gone. As far as I'm going to go, I'm not going to have any more awakenings, the absolute, you know, destruction that, that actually causes with people in recovery. It is it's shocking.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=r_Jyk8AzW4YldzO1uZSnOQTpEBgddvpOBQK8wZ0SHpE8Gf-3Vjxhfj-oxLh8ajZWsx2nVJf9pz2ed7DpJlC96wC-3yw&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=400.63">06:40</a>): Will you stop? You can't stop growing. That's it. And that's what I find sad. It says, well, I, you know, I, I don't get high anymore, I guess, as is it no. And for you said it to me, it was so important when you said, you know, maybe I don't know what this God thing is. His higher power is, but I can have a relationship with it. I can check in with it. And I think building and wow to build a relationship with, I'm not even sure what it is, you know, and get that reality check with the people who say, yeah, there really are a little pink dogs bouncing around the sidewalk. You're okay. You know, and realize that that too is part of it, that the world is strange and I can wake him to that and I can seek experiences. You begin, things begin to happen. You think, but you can't stop. This is not something to be finished and done. And I think that so many people think get in that retrogressive groove. I think that's the old language, um, get in a rut.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=bgoCD_24KNrvk2s1AjWgYZSz-MR3SK6p8PIrS0bthYebpa0h1YRlaUcGvIYqjx1baWYdsyl3Fi1B6v15UU5XGXuvW-0&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=456.4">07:36</a>): And I think a lot of that, this is not something that I can be done with means I just have to clean a bunch more coffee pots and do this, but that's not what that means. Right. Have to work with 10 more people until I don't sleep. That's not what this means. What this means is is that any, and this is where I think the everyday heroes are in recovery. And what I see so prevalent in the old school men's mastermind group is we go, we go there, right? And it's the everyday heroes of the faith. It takes to step back out on the battlefield. One more time to have, get another deepening awakening, um, is, is impressive. And it, and it challenges me personally to do the same.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=XBAzykMzmbScGT9OGYuEBXdCVlZoP3JkX9OcC0p1CpeEH7ySTDFPO1nI9dNN8m7NgaF_HeM_zZKFVHXzfbP9JxUT6ZA&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=506.74">08:26</a>): Yeah. I mean to quote Oprah, all right. Uh, God's in the cleanup. It's not, it's not necessarily what things, bad things happen, but what are you going to do about it, where God is in the cleanup, God's in the cleanup, wet your reaction. And I think that in that, in that, in that effort, in that work and sharing that with others, we get into that, that, that awakening and that growth that's, what's coming out of this. That's what we're talking about. We're going to continue to grow and to have a fully realized authentic life, recovered, rewarding, real this RL man, it's real life and it's real life and a whole lot stranger and a whole lot richer and a whole lot more beautiful than I ever would have imagined when I was so busy. Trying not to feel anything, not to be present. You know,Damon Frank (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=emC3fpUnNJgv6TRBchIunngRxH464MWdaAGGqy4Jgl19e6_ucm1okIhb9_RWp7awU2_JkFrb7yhtvMl9ZRi0jqtttw0&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=560.78">09:20</a>): We're going to end it there with these, with the, with the statement again, the awakening continue.George Snyder (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=v7AfmjTEwUeOOT4gMBYJQZjd7Qu6AYZj2JG_2lXf1hFi36A17ztuFcAKAgqBJ_4wxaPlaPdZmTntG9qfyDoGv2shu1k&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=569.51">09:29</a>): Thank you, Damon. Always good.Damon Frank (<a href="https://www.rev.com/transcript-editor/Edit?token=Kdg6GpNQcBw90p_oujxE7IRKDRdsnrZptFwStvwXFL_Ay9IVvkgldNUt6VLIlqkOOMFB4El2Laeko-Kev5fm6mfZjFs&amp;loadFrom=DocumentDeeplink&amp;ts=573.11">09:33</a>): Keep the conversation going. Join recovered life. A community of like-minded people who are looking to live their best recovered lives. Membership is free and you can apply at www.recoveredlife.us

The Awakening Must Continue! Sobriety Is Just The Beginning.

Recovery

Self-Help

Mental Health

Relationships

Personal Recovery Stories

Interviews

Society and Culture

Mindful Drinking

Faith-Based Recovery

Alcohol, Addiction & Recovery

Financial Empowerment

Substance Abuse & Drug Recovery

Creativity & Innovation

Sexual Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellness

Family & Relationships

The Recovered Life Show provides a discussion for recovered people to connect, share, learn, and grow. Our focus is on how to live your best-recovered life by accessing powerful recovery-focused talks, advice from top sobriety experts, and insights from sober people sharing powerful insights on how to live your best-recovered life.

The Recovered Life Show is hosted by Damon Frank and Kristina Dennis Los Angeles-based sober coaches. After decades of sobriety, Damon and Kristina are on a mission to create a deeper conversation about sober skills, spirituality, consciousness, service, mental health, and emotional sobriety.

The Recovered Life Show is hosted by Damon Frank, a Los Angeles-based business and life strategist.  After decades of sobriety, Damon is on a mission to create a deeper conversation about sober skills, spirituality, consciousness, service, mental health, physical, and emotional sobriety.

The Recovered Life Show

What happens after you achieve sobriety? Is that the end of the road, or just the beginning of a new journey? In this episode of The Recovered Life Show, hosts Damon Frank and Kristina Dennis are joined by George Snyder to explore the continuous spiritual journey that follows sobriety. They delve into the concept that the initial awakening in recovery is merely the starting point, emphasizing the need for ongoing growth and deeper awakenings.George Snyder shares his insights on the critical role of building a relationship with a higher power and the dangers of becoming complacent in recovery. The conversation is rich with personal anecdotes and practical advice, making it relatable for anyone on their recovery journey. They highlight the everyday heroes who keep pushing forward, deepening their spiritual awakenings, and serving as inspirations for others.The episode is a heartfelt reminder that sobriety is not just about abstaining from alcohol but about continuously evolving and growing spiritually. Whether you're newly sober or have been on this path for years, this discussion offers valuable perspectives on maintaining momentum in your recovery journey. Tune in to discover how to keep your spiritual awakening alive and thriving.

Damon Frank & Kristina Dennis

Damon Frank

The Awakening Must Continue! Sobriety Is Just The Beginning.

The Awakening Must Continue! Sobriety Is Just The Beginning.

The Awakening Must Continue! Sobriety Is Just The Beginning.

Thursday 24th December 2020

About this podcast

The Recovered Life Show

Beyond Sobriety: Embracing the Ongoing Spiritual Journey