The ultimate man. Is there really such a thing? We all dream of being, doing, and having it all. And the reality is that we actually can. You just have to decide what “all” means to you. Recovery will show you that a better, healthier, and more fulfilling life is possible.
But you have to work for it.
Bryan Edmund: Creativity is the Game-Changer
“I woke up on day zero when I was still drug addicted… and decided that the worst day of my life was in actuality going to be the best day of my life.”
Bryan Edmund is a young marketing consultant who spends his time bettering his life and helping others. He’s also a recovered addict. He got a life-changing wake up call after literally waking up in a toxic nightmare of an environment. His self-improvement began when he got clean and sober at 23 years old. He now devotes his life to helping other recovering addicts through his company The Sobriety Network.
Bryan has a podcast that he uses to spread his positivity and excitement about recovery. He explains that the game-changer for him was creativity. Getting more creative about recovery – and life in general – got him where he is today. We see proof of this claim manifested in addiction treatment. Treatment sees its best results when it’s worked from a dynamic approach. This includes creative tactics. New Start promotes creativity in our residential program through a type of music therapy, during which clients will take some time to sit down and listen to music and then explain their feelings and relative thoughts. Music therapy has many benefits in recovery. It can increase self-esteem, boost mood, and reduce stress. Other methods of creativity you can use to better your recovery and your life include art therapy and writing.
Creativity isn’t just a pastime. It’s a lifestyle. Bryan Edmunds is proof that weaving creativity through your life can build you into a more positive, dynamic, and motivated person. You can have a good job, the perfect family of four, and a white-picket-fenced house and still be stuck in a static, dull mindset. Self-improvement starts with your mind and your attitude.
Tony Robbins: Push Through Your Fears
“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”
Tony Robbins is a motivational speaker, businessman, and author. He started his career as a self-help coach after promoting seminars for another motivational speaker. Tony Robbins hasn’t suffered with addiction himself but he does have personal experience with the disease. His mother suffered from substance abuse when he was young. This gives him a unique perspective because he understands that addiction is a family disease. However, he hasn’t let addiction’s web-like grasp stop him.
Robbins models his coaching around the idea of pushing through your fears. He actually uses his firewalking and board breaking skills in his seminars to give people physical and visual aids in hopes that they’ll see that fear is just an illusion. While he doesn’t explicitly connect it to addiction and recovery, the idea of pushing through your fears is very relevant for recovery as well as general self-improvement. We know that admitting you have a problem, seeking help, and starting new are all scary and potentially stressful events. But recovery is worth it. Sure, it’s scary to give up your addiction. After all, it was your whole life once. But as you come out on the other side, you’ll have space to heal, grow, and thrive.
Tim Ferriss: Trial and Error is the Right Process
“Being able to quit things that don’t work is integral to being a winner.”
Tim Ferriss is an entrepreneur, public speaker, and self-help author. His most famous work is The 4-Hour Workweek, a book of advice on how to break free of deferment and live a better, freer, and more enjoyable life. This is an appealing sentiment for most recovered addicts who find themselves suppressed in the typical nine-to-five grind. Ferriss is the role model for most people who want to tackle the entrepreneur lifestyle. The idea of being your own boss, free to answer only to yourself and grow into the “ultimate man” is a dream for many people. But it doesn’t just happen to people. Just as with recovery, entrepreneurship takes work. Of course, the rewards in both cases are worth the work.
Tim Ferriss is a good example of the process of finding what you like and working for what you want. He has actually taken up the identity of “human guinea pig.” No, that does not mean that he gets tested on or tries every single thing that comes around. Rather, his guinea pig lifestyle praises the idea of trial and error. But this goes beyond merely trying new things. Sure, open-mindedness and a willingness to explore are important cogs for trial and error. But you also need to be able to realize what works for you and what doesn’t. Having the strength to let go of the things that aren’t working for you is just as important as embracing the things that do. That is, after all, what recovery is all about, right? Recovery is letting go of your toxic, harmful addiction and embracing a lifestyle of strength and sobriety.
Complete the Equation
The “ultimate man” is likely to mean something different to different people. But I’m sure we can all agree that such a level can’t be reached while stuck in static unwillingness. Take your cue from your recovery program. As mentioned earlier, treatment works best when it’s well rounded. Your life in recovery should be well rounded as well. So let’s complete the equation with the factors that were so kindly lent by our motivators:
Creativity + Strength to Push through Fears + Willingness to Try (and Learn) = Ultimate Man
Well… maybe not exactly. But you’ll definitely be on the right path. These tools can really enhance your treatment, long-term sobriety, and general way of living. You may not instantly level up into Superman or John Wayne, but you’ll definitely feel better about yourself and your life.