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Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Drinking may not be a problem for you, but at one time it became an issue for me. So I decided to fix the problem—I became an expert on rationalization. Rationalization is when we justify our behavior with logical

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video As parents, we desperately want our kids to be happy and safe from harm. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to guarantee those things happen. They will face trials and troubles, and we do not control their life

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video The Cold War had just ended but, instead of slowing down, the world seemed to speed up. Once the Berlin Wall came down, borders opened and free elections ousted Communist regimes all over Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union dissolved

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video What causes addiction? Good question. In search of answers, people have wondered whether addiction can be: A by-product of how they were raised, especially if they were abused? Triggered by circumstance such as divorce or moving to a new

Listen to the 5-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video [Note from Steve: Carter is our oldest son. He is doing great now, but his journey included issues with drugs and alcohol when he was a teenager, so I asked him if he had any advice to parents.] Hi,

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Society attaches a stigma to many groups, especially those struggling with addiction. Many of us are affected by this branding one way or the other: we are a victim of it, or we perpetuate it. The type of stigma

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Some comments say it all. After one STEPS Proactive Parenting seminar, a parent had this to say about the session: Sometimes we need to be reminded that others are experiencing similar life problems, and that it’s ok to talk about

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Over the last few weeks, a lot of people have been asking me questions about drinking. Some of the most common ones have been: Is it okay for some people to drink? How do you know if it’s okay

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Parents want to raise their kids the right way. But many are hampered by some prevalent misconceptions of modern-day moms and dads. Which lead to mistakes parents make that actually promote, rather than discourage, negative behavior traits in their

Listen to the 5-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video OK, this is the year, this time you mean it. You’re going to get in shape, save more money, and become a kinder person. Then, you’ll solve that world hunger problem. Or, not. Modern life assaults us with an infinite

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video High achievers get more done than most people. Sometimes, that achievement comes at a cost. Alan is a high achiever. Although not an actual person, he represents many people. Perhaps you, or someone you know. Alan is smart, and

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Do you remember what summer was like when you were a kid? The thrill of the long-awaited last day of school. Giddy anticipation of endless afternoons doing whatever you want, or nothing at all. The promise of exciting adventures

Listen to the 5-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video In other STEPS Journey Blog articles, we discussed how widespread addiction problems are in the U.S. But what is addiction? It is simply when we keep doing things even though they have negative consequences, and we find ourselves unable to

Listen to the 9-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video All parents want to protect their kids from harm and for them to have happy lives. The question is: “How?” As they grow up, most teenagers make at least some bad decisions, and it’s hard for parents to know

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Do you have empathy for what young people go through, including your own kids? Each person on earth is different, traveling their own path. Teenagers sometimes take a circuitous route becoming an adult. They may be focused on having

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video God is meant to be the primary focus of our lives. Is it that way for you? Everyone’s spiritual journey is different. But there are certain steps that will help any of us move in the right direction, even

Listen to the 8-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video In Part 1 of this article, we saw the dangers of addiction with white collar professionals: we are surrounded by addiction, encouraged toward it, and not limited in our pursuit of it. The situation is actually worse than that.

Listen to the 7-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video The last blog article I wrote titled “An Alcoholic at IBM” said that after I retired: “IBM has roughly 400,000 employees. With me gone, that means there are at least 39,999 people still there with alcohol or drug abuse

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video This is your life story. But I’m not going to write it all out for you. This is just an outline, a rough script for your role in the saga that is your life. It will be up to

Listen to the 6-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Many parents want to control their kids. That’s understandable, but there’s a problem with that approach: ultimately, it won’t work! As parents, we should be proactive, and we can help our kids learn to live in a controlled manner.