How can you transform misery and failure into success and inspiration? In this episode with our guest Rich Roll, we find out exactly what he did to rise from the ashes of alcoholism and ill health, to become one of the most positive and influential leaders in the health and wellness industry.

If you or someone you know has struggled with addiction and lived to tell the tale, you have most likely learned that there are many more levels of sobriety to attain once the actual substance abuse has been overcome. Most of us who have been so afflicted find that the underlying emotional causes and conditions of our problem become much more apparent once physical sobriety has been achieved. Rich shares with us some of the many tools he’s used to maximize his spiritual growth and some of the other obstacles he’s had to face along the road to recovery.

This was one of the most meaningful interviews for me personally, not only because Rich and I have so much in common regarding our personal struggles with addiction, but also due to the level of depth, authenticity, and vulnerability to which he was willing to go to for the benefit of our listeners.

If you know someone who is struggling in life right now, and could use some hope and inspiration, this would be a great episode to share with them. I know it’s been good for me.

Thanks for listening, and helping me to continue on my journey of recovery and self-discovery.  

Luke

“Drugs and alcohol are not the problem, they are the solution. There’s an underlying sense of dis-ease that the drugs and alcohol alleviate. It ends up ultimately creating additional problems and chaos. It works until it doesn’t. When you take away the drugs and alcohol and you’re left with yourself , then you have to grapple with, and wrestle with, and reckon with who you are and that’s the real work.”

” I was wearing somebody else’s clothes for a long time, it eventually caught up with me. “

“God grant me the serenityTo accept the things I cannot change;Courage to change the things I can;And wisdom to know the difference”

EPISODE BREAKDOWN

• Welcoming Rich mid-stream on our spontaneous studio chat
• What’s on the horizon: Tuscany retreat
• Retracing Rich's life chapters: golden boy > goody two shoes nerd > alcohol > social animal > addiction > Law school > mess and chaos > junk food junkie > overweight > problems with the law > on the brink of homelessness > wake up call > rehab/recovery > sobriety > repairing the wreckage and spiritual malaise > becoming awesome
• The need to drink: where did it come from? Pressures, expectations to live up to, trauma.
• Alcoholism and the addict profile
• Still overcoming addictions: the mobile phone demon, social media, obsessive control and delegating tasks
• Monetizing spirituality and the challenges of running a self-sustaining business with an authentic approach
• Judgement: "just because you like chocolate doesn't mean you can't like vanilla". When is it appropriate, when it's not
• Rich's daily routine
• Higher power and prayer: Rich's connection
• Lifestyle recommendations

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