Welcome to START

18 Nov 2011

“It’s not about wanting to STOP using alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors; It’s about wanting to START living our True Life Purpose.” START - Spiritual Transformation Addiction Replacement Therapy OVERVIEW START is a self-empowering, viable alternative to the currently accepted and available recovery programs and fellowships. START does not believe that “Alcoholism” and “Addiction” are “incurable diseases” that we are “powerless” over. START does not use the labels Alcoholic and Addict START is a truly authentic Mind, Body, Spirit recovery method for Chemical and Behavioral Dependency. START is not just for “Alcoholics and “Addicts,” but for anyone who is truly unfulfilled and/or unhappy with their lives and is using something material, or outside themselves in order to fill an inner, spiritual void. START believes that the use of alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors are only symptoms of an underlying condition. At the deepest level, the underlying condition is the emptiness and void that exists in our lives from having yet to discover and work towards following our Passions, our Gift, our Dreams, our “True Life Purpose.” START is focussed on self-empowerment to cure this underlying condition as opposed to focusing on just plain abstinence from alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors. START does not believe that Dependency is an issue of “morality” or “character.” START believes that once we stop the use of alcohol, drugs and/or destructive behaviors, we must replace our old habits and ways with healthy & constructive activities, a proper diet & a regular exercise routine or we risk relapse. START does not recognize true recovery by lengths of time abstinent but rather by progress towards Spiritual Transformationto discover & follow our True Life Purpose. INTRODUCTION There have been many books written and programs introduced based on the subject of “Alcoholism” and “Addiction.” START is based on curing the underlying condition that causes most Chemical and Behavioral Dependency. START is also a truly authentic, spiritual (not religious) Mind, Body, Spirit approach to recovery. START is not just another “Self-help” book, but rather a “Self-Administered Counseling” resource and legitimate alternative to the currently accepted 12 step and other available programs.START represents a revolutionary change and a complete paradigm shift in the fundamental philosophy on the issue of Alcoholism, Addiction and the recovery process, as compared with the current and accepted programs. There is a new movement that has been gaining popularity recently, combining the fields of science, philosophy, psychology and spirituality, most notably portrayed in some of the best-selling, spiritual, self-help books and documentaries in the personal development category. This new movement is based on the self-empowering or “inside-out” wisdom common to most of the ancient Eastern philosophies and will prove applicable as a new approach to recovery and addiction therapy. It is our belief that this new model will completely revolutionize the thinking on Alcoholism and Addiction and will fast become a popular and accepted approach to the recovery process. RELABELING ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION One of the main objectives of the START program is to stay away from the use of labels such as “Alcoholism” and “Addiction.” One of the main reasons for this is because there are many of us who would prefer not to be strapped with the label Alcoholic and/or Addict. Over the years society has developed a clearly negative image of the “Alcoholic” and/or “Addict.” START would like stay clear of the attitude of negativity, intolerance and in some cases true prejudice. Another reason for this is that we are not just concerned with alcohol and drugs, but with any form of “Dependency,” whether it is Chemical or Behavioral. Along with alcohol and/or drugs, there is also any one of a number of destructive behaviors that we can become dependent upon. We will address these in the next section. WHO IS START FOR There are several specific types of people that START was created and developed for. In addition to those who are Dependent themselves, START is also for the friends and family of those with dependency. If we have loved ones, care about someone, or just know of an individual or individuals who’s lives are suffering from the debilitating effects of dependency, it is only right to consider it our responsibility to educate ourselves on dependency and suggest theSTART 5 Steps to those who are suffering. A large percentage of people in the grips of dependency may be either unaware of their condition or still completely in denial. In these cases we hope to plant the seed that will eventually lead to a new and better life for everyone involved. There are those who have found limited, if any success at all with the accepted and currently available programs and have been searching for a viable alternative; or those who just do not buy into these programs on the basis of personal or spiritualbeliefs. We feel that START is a viable alternative, as it addresses some of the main, fundamental differences in philosophy a growing percentage of the population have found with these programs. We are in no way suggesting that anyone completely disregard the currently available fellowships and programs. In fact, anyone who has found success and “true recovery” with the 12 steps, or any other program, we say “keep it up” and wish them the best with their ongoing recovery. However, if you are searching for a viable alternative, START may just be what you have been searching for. Secondly there are those who are new to the recovery process and may or may not have had involvement with any of the traditional or available alternative forms of treatment. This is a perfect time to become acquainted with the START 5 steps and the STARTprogram. If we address our dependencies in the early stages and follow the STARTprogram, we will have a greater chance of avoiding some of the all too familiar pit-falls with the currently accepted and available programs such as habitual relapsing, lack of “true recovery,” multiple stays in rehabs, institutions, jail or even death. Thirdly, there are those who may have never considered themselves Alcoholics and/or Addicts, or even think they have any such problem. However, if we are truly unhappyand unfulfilled in our lives, there very well may be something we are using to fill a voidor feeling of emptiness inside of ourselves. It may be food or fad diets we are using; it may be shopping and overspending, gambling, sex or pornography, technology physical augmentation, or even people and relationships. There are so many out there that are using any one of a number of these things without even knowing it to fill thatvoid, or feeling of emptiness and lack of fulfillment in our lives. That feeling that we have been searching for something all of our lives, but could never seem to figure out what or where this missing element was. If this sounds familiar, then START may be that missing element you have been searching for all along. The fact is that all of us who have yet to begin our quest towards Spiritual Transformation by discovering and following our True Life Purpose have been usingsomething to fill this void and would surely benefit from following the START program and these 5 steps. “INCURABLE DISEASE” If there were one, overall most important fundamental difference in philosophy betweenSTART and the traditional therapies and 12 step based programs, it would be this. We do not subscribe to the accepted theory that Alcoholism and Addiction are “incurable diseases.” In fact, consistent with advancements in modern science, we believe that in theory, there is no such thing as an “incurable disease.” Modern Scientists are now scientifically proving that anything the human mind can conceive and believe it canachieve. “Our body is a product of our thoughts. We’re beginning to understand in medical science, the degree to which the nature of thoughts and emotions actually determines the physical substance, structure and function of our bodies.” Dr. John Hagelin Ph.D. A.B.M.A. Quantum Physicist, The Secret Another fundamental difference is the accepted theory of “powerlessness,” exemplified by the first of the 12 steps reads; “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and/or our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.” It begs to ask the question: “If Alcoholism & Addiction are incurable diseases that we are powerless over, then how are we ever supposed to have any hope of recovery? With START, we are NOT “powerless.” In fact START is based on the complete opposite theory. It aims to empower us and to help us to realize that we ALL have within ourselves the ultimate power and strength to overcome anything in our lives that wetruly want to and absolutely believe that we can, including Alcoholism and Addiction. By “Self-Empowerment,” we do not mean that there is NO God, Higher Power, Spirit, or whatever term we choose to represent our spirituality. It just means that our belief is that we are NOT SEPARATE from our Spirit, or Divinity. Our belief is that Divinity lies within us all and is the true essence of our very being. In fact we are Divinity in Human form. There is a popular quote that illustrates this idea well. “We are not human beings having a Spiritual experience, we are Spiritual beings having a human experience.” CURING THE UNDERLYING CONDITION What we are truly concerned about with START is curing the underlying condition that caused our Dependencies in the first place, as opposed to just focusing on abstinence. The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs and the participation in destructive behaviors, are only symptoms of the underlying condition that lead us to become dependent. We believe that this is one of the crucial areas where most institutions, rehabilitation centers and 12 step based programs get it wrong. These institutions and programs aim to keep the “Alcoholic” and/or “Addict” abstinent from alcohol, drugs and destructive behaviors. They don’t focus on the underlying condition that leads us to become dependent on substances and destructive behaviors in the first place. We strongly believe that this is one of the many reasons their success rates are so alarmingly low (less than 10% success rate in most cases).* *Even the most ardent true believers who will be honest about it recognize that A.A. and N.A. have at least 90% failure rates. And the real numbers are more like 95% or 98% or 100% failure rates. www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html A. Orange, The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment It is just like putting a Band-Aid on a wound, or taking a pill to alleviate the symptoms of a condition, without getting to the bottom of what is causing the condition in the first place, and ultimately curing it. ADDICTION REPLACEMENT START was first developed around the idea of “Addiction Replacement.” One of the major, fundamental issues that is overlooked by the existing 12 step based programs is that, once we take away the alcohol, the drugs and/or the destructive behaviors, we must replace them with something new and better, or we will inevitably resort back to the same activities and behaviors that we were trying to avoid in the first place. It’s just the law of physics that once you eliminate something, you have to replace it with something else or you will leave a void. START recommends that we fill that void initially, with healthy, constructive activities, aproper diet, and a regular exercise routine, to the best of our individual ability. Replacing an unhealthy lifestyle with a healthy one is imperative to the success of any recovery program. For example, drink water or tea and healthy liquids in place of the alcohol. Consume healthy foods in place of the drugs. Incorporate a regular exercise routine and take up healthy, constructive hobbies in place of destructive behaviors.Most established counselors and therapists would agree that Alcoholism & Addiction are conditions of the Mind, the Body and the Spirit, yet most 12 step based programs usually pay little or no attention to the Body part. With START, the Body part is just as important as the Mind and the Spirit. There may be nothing more important to a successful recovery program than a healthy lifestyle consisting of a proper diet andregular exercise. We can’t overstate the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise to the success of our recovery. In fact, it may be THE MOST IMPORTANT part of a complete recovery program. We strongly believe in the ancient Greek concept “Mens Sana En Corpore Sano” or “A sound mind in a sound body.” If we want to enjoy a truly successfulrecovery program, we really need to start living a healthy lifestyle. There are many things we can do to stay healthy, but a proper diet, along with a regular exercise routine, is the closest thing there is to a “magic pill” for the initial phase of the recovery process, as well as the ongoing maintenance of your recovery program. SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION The main concept of this book and the START program is ultimately about the quest forSpiritual Transformation & Enlightenment based on working towards discovering and following our True Life Purpose, thereby filling this void that we are currently trying to fill with alcohol, drugs and/or destructive behaviors. It is our sincere belief that once we start filling our lives with beliefs and activities consistent with our True Life Purpose, the feeling of emptiness goes away, the void is filled, and the need to consume alcohol and drugs and/or participate in destructive behaviors will fade away and eventually disappears. This is the point where we START the process of Spiritual Transformation, which we believe is our ultimate goal and purpose as human beings. This is truly what we as human beings are ultimately seeking. To answer the questions; “What is the meaning of my life, who are we, and why are we here?” In the answer to these questions lies the basis of this book and the START program. The truth is that this applies not just to the “alcoholic” and/or “addict,” but to all who have yet to realize their path towards Spiritual Transformation by discovering and following their True Life Purpose. One important fact to always be mindful of is that Spiritual Transformation is not just an event. It is a life long journey and a daily continuation of actions and events, consistent with following our True Life Purpose. START - “SHARE” “TRACE” “ACCEPT” “REPLACE” “TRANSFORM” The 5 step Cure for Chemical & Behavioral Dependencies STEP 1: “SHARE” Get honest with ourselves & share the fact that we have become dependent on the use of chemicals and/or destructive behaviors to the point where we desperately want to change, but have yet to find a way. STEP 2: “TRACE” Trace our past events in order to identify & heal the underlying conditions and/or unresolved issues that have contributed to our dependencies. STEP 3: “ACCEPT” Accept the fact that we can not change our pasts, but we are responsible for our present choices & decisions & have the power within ourselves to overcome our dependencies in order to change our lives for the better. STEP 4: “REPLACE” Replace our use of chemicals and/or destructive behaviors with a healthy lifestyle consisting of constructive activities, a proper diet & regular exercise. STEP 5: “TRANSFORM” Begin our quest towards Spiritual Transformation to discover & follow our True Life Purpose. © 2011 John Anthony Stahl. All Rights Reserved

“It’s not about wanting to STOP using alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors;

It’s about wanting to START living our True Life Purpose.”

START - Spiritual Transformation Addiction Replacement Therapy

OVERVIEW

  • START is a self-empowering, viable alternative to the currently accepted and available recovery programs and fellowships.
  • START does not believe that “Alcoholism” and “Addiction” are “incurable diseases” that we are “powerless” over.
  • START does not use the labels Alcoholic and Addict
  • START is a truly authentic Mind, Body, Spirit recovery method for Chemical and Behavioral Dependency.
  • START is not just for “Alcoholics and “Addicts,” but for anyone who is truly unfulfilled and/or unhappy with their lives and is using something material, or outside themselves in order to fill an inner, spiritual void.
  • START believes that the use of alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors are only symptoms of an underlying condition. At the deepest level, the underlying condition is the emptiness and void that exists in our lives from having yet to discover and work towards following our Passions, our Gift, our Dreams, our “True Life Purpose.”
  • START is focussed on self-empowerment to cure this underlying condition as opposed to focusing on just plain abstinence from alcohol, drugs & destructive behaviors.
  • START does not believe that Dependency is an issue of “morality” or “character.”
  • START believes that once we stop the use of alcohol, drugs and/or destructive behaviors, we must replace our old habits and ways with healthy & constructive activities, a proper diet & a regular exercise routine or we risk relapse.
  • START does not recognize true recovery by lengths of time abstinent but rather by progress towards Spiritual Transformationto discover & follow our True Life Purpose.

INTRODUCTION

There have been many books written and programs introduced based on the subject of “Alcoholism” and “Addiction.” START is based on curing the underlying condition that causes most Chemical and Behavioral Dependency. START is also a truly authentic, spiritual (not religious) Mind, Body, Spirit approach to recovery. START is not just another “Self-help” book, but rather a “Self-Administered Counseling” resource and legitimate alternative to the currently accepted 12 step and other available programs.START represents a revolutionary change and a complete paradigm shift in the fundamental philosophy on the issue of Alcoholism, Addiction and the recovery process, as compared with the current and accepted programs.

There is a new movement that has been gaining popularity recently, combining the fields of science, philosophy, psychology and spirituality, most notably portrayed in some of the best-selling, spiritual, self-help books and documentaries in the personal development category. This new movement is based on the self-empowering or “inside-out” wisdom common to most of the ancient Eastern philosophies and will prove applicable as a new approach to recovery and addiction therapy. It is our belief that this new model will completely revolutionize the thinking on Alcoholism and Addiction and will fast become a popular and accepted approach to the recovery process.

RELABELING ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION

One of the main objectives of the START program is to stay away from the use of labels such as “Alcoholism” and “Addiction.” One of the main reasons for this is because there are many of us who would prefer not to be strapped with the label Alcoholic and/or Addict. Over the years society has developed a clearly negative image of the “Alcoholic” and/or “Addict.” START would like stay clear of the attitude of negativity, intolerance and in some cases true prejudice.

Another reason for this is that we are not just concerned with alcohol and drugs, but with any form of “Dependency,” whether it is Chemical or Behavioral. Along with alcohol and/or drugs, there is also any one of a number of destructive behaviors that we can become dependent upon. We will address these in the next section.

WHO IS START FOR

There are several specific types of people that START was created and developed for. In addition to those who are Dependent themselves, START is also for the friends and family of those with dependency.

If we have loved ones, care about someone, or just know of an individual or individuals who’s lives are suffering from the debilitating effects of dependency, it is only right to consider it our responsibility to educate ourselves on dependency and suggest theSTART 5 Steps to those who are suffering. A large percentage of people in the grips of dependency may be either unaware of their condition or still completely in denial. In these cases we hope to plant the seed that will eventually lead to a new and better life for everyone involved.

There are those who have found limited, if any success at all with the accepted and currently available programs and have been searching for a viable alternative; or those who just do not buy into these programs on the basis of personal or spiritualbeliefs. We feel that START is a viable alternative, as it addresses some of the main, fundamental differences in philosophy a growing percentage of the population have found with these programs.

We are in no way suggesting that anyone completely disregard the currently available fellowships and programs. In fact, anyone who has found success and “true recovery” with the 12 steps, or any other program, we say “keep it up” and wish them the best with their ongoing recovery. However, if you are searching for a viable alternative, START may just be what you have been searching for.

Secondly there are those who are new to the recovery process and may or may not have had involvement with any of the traditional or available alternative forms of treatment. This is a perfect time to become acquainted with the START 5 steps and the STARTprogram. If we address our dependencies in the early stages and follow the STARTprogram, we will have a greater chance of avoiding some of the all too familiar pit-falls with the currently accepted and available programs such as habitual relapsing, lack of “true recovery,” multiple stays in rehabs, institutions, jail or even death.

Thirdly, there are those who may have never considered themselves Alcoholics and/or Addicts, or even think they have any such problem. However, if we are truly unhappyand unfulfilled in our lives, there very well may be something we are using to fill a voidor feeling of emptiness inside of ourselves. It may be food or fad diets we are using; it may be shopping and overspending, gambling, sex or pornography, technology physical augmentation, or even people and relationships. There are so many out there that are using any one of a number of these things without even knowing it to fill thatvoid, or feeling of emptiness and lack of fulfillment in our lives. That feeling that we have been searching for something all of our lives, but could never seem to figure out what or where this missing element was. If this sounds familiar, then START may be that missing element you have been searching for all along.

The fact is that all of us who have yet to begin our quest towards Spiritual Transformation by discovering and following our True Life Purpose have been usingsomething to fill this void and would surely benefit from following the START program and these 5 steps.

“INCURABLE DISEASE”

If there were one, overall most important fundamental difference in philosophy betweenSTART and the traditional therapies and 12 step based programs, it would be this. We do not subscribe to the accepted theory that Alcoholism and Addiction are “incurable diseases.” In fact, consistent with advancements in modern science, we believe that in theory, there is no such thing as an “incurable disease.” Modern Scientists are now scientifically proving that anything the human mind can conceive and believe it canachieve.

“Our body is a product of our thoughts. We’re beginning to understand in medical science, the degree to which the nature of thoughts and emotions actually determines the physical substance, structure and function of our bodies.”

Dr. John Hagelin Ph.D. A.B.M.A. Quantum Physicist, The Secret

Another fundamental difference is the accepted theory of “powerlessness,” exemplified by the first of the 12 steps reads; “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol and/or our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.” It begs to ask the question: “If Alcoholism & Addiction are incurable diseases that we are powerless over, then how are we ever supposed to have any hope of recovery?

With START, we are NOT “powerless.” In fact START is based on the complete opposite theory. It aims to empower us and to help us to realize that we ALL have within ourselves the ultimate power and strength to overcome anything in our lives that wetruly want to and absolutely believe that we can, including Alcoholism and Addiction. By “Self-Empowerment,” we do not mean that there is NO God, Higher Power, Spirit, or whatever term we choose to represent our spirituality. It just means that our belief is that we are NOT SEPARATE from our Spirit, or Divinity. Our belief is that Divinity lies within us all and is the true essence of our very being. In fact we are Divinity in Human form. There is a popular quote that illustrates this idea well.

“We are not human beings having a Spiritual experience, we are Spiritual beings having a human experience.”

CURING THE UNDERLYING CONDITION

What we are truly concerned about with START is curing the underlying condition that caused our Dependencies in the first place, as opposed to just focusing on abstinence. The use and abuse of alcohol and drugs and the participation in destructive behaviors, are only symptoms of the underlying condition that lead us to become dependent. We believe that this is one of the crucial areas where most institutions, rehabilitation centers and 12 step based programs get it wrong. These institutions and programs aim to keep the “Alcoholic” and/or “Addict” abstinent from alcohol, drugs and destructive behaviors. They don’t focus on the underlying condition that leads us to become dependent on substances and destructive behaviors in the first place. We strongly believe that this is one of the many reasons their success rates are so alarmingly low (less than 10% success rate in most cases).*

*Even the most ardent true believers who will be honest about it recognize that A.A. and N.A. have at least 90% failure rates. And the real numbers are more like 95% or 98% or 100% failure rates. www.orange-papers.org/orange-effectiveness.html A. Orange, The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment

It is just like putting a Band-Aid on a wound, or taking a pill to alleviate the symptoms of a condition, without getting to the bottom of what is causing the condition in the first place, and ultimately curing it.

ADDICTION REPLACEMENT

START was first developed around the idea of “Addiction Replacement.” One of the major, fundamental issues that is overlooked by the existing 12 step based programs is that, once we take away the alcohol, the drugs and/or the destructive behaviors, we must replace them with something new and better, or we will inevitably resort back to the same activities and behaviors that we were trying to avoid in the first place. It’s just the law of physics that once you eliminate something, you have to replace it with something else or you will leave a void.

START recommends that we fill that void initially, with healthy, constructive activities, aproper diet, and a regular exercise routine, to the best of our individual ability. Replacing an unhealthy lifestyle with a healthy one is imperative to the success of any recovery program. For example, drink water or tea and healthy liquids in place of the alcohol. Consume healthy foods in place of the drugs. Incorporate a regular exercise routine and take up healthy, constructive hobbies in place of destructive behaviors.Most established counselors and therapists would agree that Alcoholism & Addiction are conditions of the Mind, the Body and the Spirit, yet most 12 step based programs usually pay little or no attention to the Body part. With START, the Body part is just as important as the Mind and the Spirit. There may be nothing more important to a successful recovery program than a healthy lifestyle consisting of a proper diet andregular exercise.

We can’t overstate the importance of proper nutrition and regular exercise to the success of our recovery. In fact, it may be THE MOST IMPORTANT part of a complete recovery program. We strongly believe in the ancient Greek concept “Mens Sana En Corpore Sano” or “A sound mind in a sound body.” If we want to enjoy a truly successfulrecovery program, we really need to start living a healthy lifestyle. There are many things we can do to stay healthy, but a proper diet, along with a regular exercise routine, is the closest thing there is to a “magic pill” for the initial phase of the recovery process, as well as the ongoing maintenance of your recovery program.

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION

The main concept of this book and the START program is ultimately about the quest forSpiritual Transformation & Enlightenment based on working towards discovering and following our True Life Purpose, thereby filling this void that we are currently trying to fill with alcohol, drugs and/or destructive behaviors. It is our sincere belief that once we start filling our lives with beliefs and activities consistent with our True Life Purpose, the feeling of emptiness goes away, the void is filled, and the need to consume alcohol and drugs and/or participate in destructive behaviors will fade away and eventually disappears.

This is the point where we START the process of Spiritual Transformation, which we believe is our ultimate goal and purpose as human beings. This is truly what we as human beings are ultimately seeking. To answer the questions; “What is the meaning of my life, who are we, and why are we here?” In the answer to these questions lies the basis of this book and the START program.

The truth is that this applies not just to the “alcoholic” and/or “addict,” but to all who have yet to realize their path towards Spiritual Transformation by discovering and following their True Life Purpose. One important fact to always be mindful of is that Spiritual Transformation is not just an event. It is a life long journey and a daily continuation of actions and events, consistent with following our True Life Purpose.

START - “SHARE” “TRACE” “ACCEPT” “REPLACE” “TRANSFORM”

The 5 step Cure for Chemical & Behavioral Dependencies

  1. STEP 1: “SHARE” Get honest with ourselves & share the fact that we have become dependent on the use of chemicals and/or destructive behaviors to the point where we desperately want to change, but have yet to find a way.
  2. STEP 2: “TRACE” Trace our past events in order to identify & heal the underlying conditions and/or unresolved issues that have contributed to our dependencies.
  3. STEP 3: “ACCEPT” Accept the fact that we can not change our pasts, but we are responsible for our present choices & decisions & have the power within ourselves to overcome our dependencies in order to change our lives for the better.
  4. STEP 4: “REPLACE” Replace our use of chemicals and/or destructive behaviors with a healthy lifestyle consisting of constructive activities, a proper diet & regular exercise.
  5. STEP 5: “TRANSFORM” Begin our quest towards Spiritual Transformation to discover & follow our True Life Purpose.

© 2011 John Anthony Stahl. All Rights Reserved

19 Mar 2011

“We are what our deep, driving desire is.
As our desire is, so is our will.
As our will is, so is our deed.
As our deed is, so is our destiny.”