Tim Z. Brooks Recovery Made Simple
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Getting Oriented

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Michael’s Story: Am I Addicted to Working?

(The following story is fictional. It does not describe any real executive, client, or workplace situation. It is a composite meant to reflect common patterns seen in high-achieving professionals struggling with compulsive overwork.) Mike:Thanks for taking the call, Tim. I wasn’t sure who else to talk to. Tim:I’m glad you reached out. What’s going on? Mike:I just got promoted. Managing twelve...

Keeping It Simple When Everything Feels Urgent

When people first start trying to change, everything can feel urgent. The habit feels dangerous. Time feels short. Consequences feel close. There is a strong pull to act quickly, decisively, and completely. Fix the whole thing. Make a plan for the rest of your life. Finally get it right. This sense of urgency is understandable. It is also one of the easiest ways to get overwhelmed. In recovery...

Lena’s Story: She Gave Up Drinking for 60 Days. Now What?

(The following story is fictional. It does not describe any real person, student, or coaching conversation. It is a composite drawn from common experiences among young adults who are beginning to question their relationship with alcohol.) Lena is eighteen years old and finishing her first year of college. During her freshman year, she began noticing that alcohol was playing a larger role in her...

Why Some People Bounce Between Programs (and What to Do Instead)

Many people in recovery carry a quiet fear:“I just can’t stick with anything.” They may have tried several programs, approaches, or plans. They start with hope, put in effort, and then drift away. Over time, this pattern can feel like proof of a personal flaw. A lack of discipline. A lack of commitment. A lack of seriousness. This post is here to challenge that conclusion. Very often, the problem...

Why So Many Recovery Programs Seem to Contradict Each Other

If you have explored more than one recovery program, you may have noticed something unsettling. One program tells you to surrender control. Another tells you to take control. One emphasizes abstinence. Another emphasizes moderation. One focuses on spirituality. Another rejects it entirely. At some point, it can start to feel like everyone is contradicting everyone else. For many people, this...

Tim Z. Brooks Recovery Made Simple

Tim Z. Brooks is a site with blog posts and drafts of several books-in-progress on the topics of spirituality, integrative metatheory, and Sacred Words. You can also subscribe to Tim's newsletter and follow him on Facebook to read daily notes on his Integral Life Practice.