Spirit of Recovery · Mind Body Spirit.fm

Give It Away To Keep It

December 20, 2022·36 min·3 clips

Michelle confesses she's naturally selfish due to childhood trauma, explaining how recovery breaks this bondage.

Rev. Dan Beckett and Rev. Michelle Vargas, both ordained Unity ministers and self-described "recovery nerds," host this episode exploring the spiritual principle of selfless service in addiction recovery. They frame the episode around the paradox that giving recovery away freely is essential to keeping one's own recovery. The hosts begin by examining their pre-recovery mindsets, with Michelle describing herself as a naturally "selfish, self-centered person" as a trauma response and Dan relating to the "hundred forms of fear" from recovery literature. They discuss using tools like the Enneagram for self-discovery, identifying as types 3 and 5 to understand their drives for validation and discerning reality. A major theme is recognizing how survival-focused self-centeredness, developed from trauma or addiction, becomes a "bondage of self" from which recovery offers freedom. The conversation outlines practical avenues for service, starting with simple acts in 12-step meetings like making coffee or putting away chairs. Dan shares the concept of being in the "secret service" by performing anonymous good deeds, such as leaving change in a vending machine or time on a parking meter. Michelle emphasizes that even showing up authentically to a meeting and sharing one's truth is a form of service that helps others. They extend the concept to church communities, encouraging volunteering as a greeter or usher, and to daily life through "free-cycling" items on Facebook Marketplace. A surprising scriptural insight comes from James 1:5, which describes God as giving "generously and ungrudgingly," setting a model for how individuals should give. Dan proposes a spiritual finance principle: to experience a generous universe, one must first show up as a generous presence within it. Michelle reframes asking and receiving as "opening up channels for God to express God's self through us." In the "Recovery in a Nutshell" segment, Michelle advises asking group leadership, "What can I do to help?" and learning to say yes to service opportunities within reason. Dan suggests making a game of anonymous giving, while Michelle recommends year-end financial donations to community organizations like food banks as another form of tithing. The episode closes with the affirmation, "I give openly and freely and I am blessed." The tone is conversational, educational, and deeply personal, as the hosts freely share their own flaws and spiritual frameworks. This episode would deeply resonate with listeners in 12-step programs or spiritual communities seeking to integrate service into their recovery journey. Those uninterested in Christian scripture or the intersection of spirituality and recovery might find it less applicable.

As heard by us

Service is shown as a quiet habit of recovery, not a public display.

The episode treats service as part of recovery, not as a performance. Rev. Dan Beckett and Rev. Michelle Vargas connect the idea to sponsor calls, small chores, and the quiet work that keeps a home group moving.

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Why you'd press play

You want a calm, spiritual nudge toward recovery through service and gratitude.

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