Greetings! It has been awhile and I am so happy to be back producing podcasts again. I have missed sending these to your inbox and interacting with you. If you’d like to listen to a little life update, why there was a break in my podcasts (yes I am blaming Peru) and the future plans of this podcast and business you can do so here:
And now onto the current episode with Melissa Armstrong. Melissa and I met during our Integral Facilitation program in 2019 and it was an honor to have her on the podcast to share her story.
Serenity - a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. This was the theme when I sat down with Melissa Armstrong to discuss her journey from shame to sobriety. Melissa's story is one of struggle, resilience, and ultimately learning how to “let go”.
Melissa's journey to recovery began when she realized she needed to quit drinking. She described recovery as "thawing out" and acknowledges that her feelings were her teacher that guided her to this place of self-discovery. She shared her story of being a functional alcoholic and how the shame associated with it was the catalyst for her to make significant changes in her life.
Melissa's path to sobriety involved attending AA meetings, meeting others on the same path, reading books, and meditation. A significant part of Melissa's recovery process has been sharing her story with others and bringing shame to the surface to transform it. Her journey has taught her to “hate herself less and like herself more”, and she has learned how to be a friend to herself.
We go in depth into:
shame, seeing it as something that serves a function in groups to maintain norms, but acknowledging that it can turn toxic, cause us pain, and limit our individual freedom.
Addiction as a strategy of the body to survive and to regulate the nervous system. She expressed how addiction helps us shift states, and when you take that away, suddenly we have to feel everything and see life as it is.
The importance of personal responsibility in the recovery process.
Learning to love all parts of ourself and not about getting rid of them. Rather we want to be learning from them without letting them take over.
Grief and learning to openly expressing our grief. She believes we did not get an emotional curriculum growing up and that part of recovery is growing up.
We close with talking about Melissa’s Zen practice and how that helps continue to guide her to be in the present moment, whatever the experience.
In conclusion, Melissa's story is one of hope and the belief that recovery is possible. Her story reminds us that we are all doing our best, and if it doesn't change today, it can be a possibility tomorrow.
Work and follow Melissa: https://www.strongarm.ca/
and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strongarm.ca/
Work and follow Lesha: https://www.leshanelson.com/
and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesha__nelson/
Thank you so much for tuning in!
Lesha
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