2. Review of Last Week
0 What did you learn about the patterns of mental health,
physical health and substance abuse issues in your family?
0 People who feel crappy –due to physical problems or mental
health issues – are more likely to develop addictions as a way
to try and feel better
0 Many people who come from addicted families learn that
substances are a way to cope, instead of developing good
coping skills.
0 What 2 things did you identify that you could do to help
yourself feel better?
0 Why/how do they help you feel better?
0 What changes do you notice in yourself when you do those
things?

3. Be Proactive
0 Take initiative by realizing that your decisions (and
how they align with your values and principles) are
the primary determining factor for happiness in your
life.
0 Take responsibility for your choices and the
subsequent consequences that follow.

4. Activity
0 Addicted vs. Sober
0 Make 2 columns on your paper/white board
0 Label one “Addicted” and the other “Sober”
0 Spend 5 minutes brainstorming characteristics of the “ideal
addict.”
0 Spend 5 minutes brainstorming characteristics of the “ideal
sober person.”
0 Compare and contrast the two.
0 Which is easier? Better?
0 Which type of person would you rather be around and why?
0 Now identify which characteristics of each you currently have
*Remember that sobriety is a way of life, not just being clean

5. Defining Values and
Principles
0 Honesty (Head-Heart-Gut)
0 With Self
0 With Others
0 What decisions have you made in the past 6 months
which related toward honesty with yourself or others?
0 How does dishonesty serve as a relapse trigger?
0 Hope
0 Belief that things can get better
0 What has happened or what have you done to increase
your hope and positive outlook?

6. 0 Faith
0 In self
0 I have faith that I _______________________
0 In others
0 Who do you have faith in? Why?
0 In Good Orderly Direction
0 What is Good Orderly Direction
0 Compassion/Brotherly Love
0 Toward others you do not know
0 To help deal with resentment/anger

7. 0 Courage
0 What does courage mean to you?
0 What do you do to build up your courage?
0 What things have you done this week that have required
courage?
0 How did they turn out?
0 How did you feel afterward?
0 What things did you avoid because you were afraid?
0 What were you afraid of?
0 How could you deal with this next time?

8. 0 Discipline and Consistency
0 What do they mean to you?
0 What is the difference between discipline and
motivation?
0 How do you help yourself stay disciplined/motivated?

9. Taking Responsibility
0 For Choices and Actions
0 Make informed, thoughtful choices
0 Think before you act
0 Addicts are impulsive. Sober people choose long-term goals over
immediate gratification
0 What is one choice or decision you made this week that was
impulsive or just plain wrong? How did you feel about it?
What did you do next?
0 What is one choice or decision you made this week that was
positive? How did you feel about it?

10. Responsibility cont…
0 For Feelings
0 Start with “I feel” or “I felt,” not “You made me feel…”
0 Anger/Anxiety/Depression are feelings that tell us to do
something
0 You have the ability to evaluate the feeling to determine
if it is worth the energy
0 You have the ability to do something to change the
situation or your feelings about the situation

11. In Practice
0 How did each of the following decisions align with
your values and principles, and impact your
happiness?
0 You decided to come to group today
0 You decided to go to work
0 You decided not to use
0 You decided not to get upset at the slow cashier and the
long line.

12. Homework
0 Review your Addicted vs. Sober worksheet
0 Circle each characteristic you want to change (i.e.
being manipulative, impulsive, undependable etc.)
0 List three (3) ways you could change each
0 Example:
0 Manipulative: Put other people’s feelings first, _____________,
_____________
0 Impulsive: Decide to think things over before saying yes or
no, _______________, _______________
0 Undependable: Keep calendar and review each morning,
_______________, ______________