Why Sobriety Demands Community. Lives of the Sober, with Orlando Rivera

“In recovery, I now have the gift of choice.” Meet Orlando Rivera, addictions counselor, teacher, mentor, sponsor, and in recovery from drugs and alcohol for more than 30 years. In this conversation, I ask Orlando about his life as a sober person, what has changed since beginning recovery, and what needs to be in place to continue in a sober way of life. He says, “I don’t make space for relapse,” and highly emphasizes not entertaining relapse oriented thoughts. He says, “Recovery is about working the Inside,” to emphasize that behavior change is a byproduct of inner growth. Orlando talks about placing a high value on being interconnected with all things, and valuing the big picture perspective. He doesn’t see himself as an isolated individual but rather as part of a community, “I do see things as interconnected, with me playing a very small role.” For practices and values to sustain the sober life, he recommends, continued learning, responsibility, presence, allowing differences of opinion, finding the choice, and continual self-reflection, being a student of yourself, and of others. He also recommends finding the lesson in the struggle. “The irony of living in pain is that we learn from the pain.” To learn more about this podcast, and to become a financial partner, visit patreon.com/outercircle. To learn more about Rhys Pasimio, go to www.newpatterncounseling.com or follow him on instagram at @newpatterncounseling. To learn more about Orlando, reach out to him at 971-276-1826, or  [email protected]. Thanks for listening! #recovery #recoverywork #sobriety #addiction #addictionrecovery #counseling #therapy #mentalhealth #12steps #community #relationships #drugsandalcohol #drugs #alcohol #longtermsobriety #tweaker #rhyspasimio #outercircleinnerstillness #spirituality