F.E.A.R.-Yes, Or F.E.A.R.-Less By Ken Donaldson

As creative as I truly feel at times, I am keenly aware that there are no original thoughts that come from within. It certainly feels original, however I realize that I am the sum total of what I have read and experienced. With that in mind sometimes an article comes along that I truly feel says it better then I think it!

This is one of those articles. For lack of a better term this is "Old School" self improvement. I learned very early on that I was a reactor! I needed to learn how to implement "I" over "E", intellect over emotion. In fact I had little signs posted around my apartment that said I/E, to remind me. This is taken from SelfGrowth.com which in my opinion has some of the most profound and professional self improvement experts in the field. Enjoy,

F.E.A.R.-Yes, Or F.E.A.R.-Less
By Ken Donaldson

What do you fear, and how real are your fears? The most common fears I see and hear from clients (and others!!) include the fear of rejection, the fear of failure, the fear of change and - believe it or not - the fear of success. As real as these fears may seem, most of them are only imaginary (not real) and totally made-up (fantasy). I like to refer to these made-up scenarios as stories. Part of our humanness includes an amazing ability to make up stories and assumptions, and then to believe them and fabricate some F.E.A.R.: Fictitious Events Appearing Real.

Your mind, as wonderful as it is, has great difficulty in discerning between what’s real and what’s made up or imagined as a story. Your mind tends to perceive all your fantasies and imaginings as being real.

The primary functions of your mind are protection and survival.

Because of this, if your mind perceives a threat, it activates the fight or flight mechanism which prepares your body to go into battle or to flee. When you then feel the rush of the adrenaline flow through your body (triggered by the activation of this fight or flight mechanism), this just validates your perceived “story”: There must indeed be some threat. Often you end up pumped up and keyed up for no true reason because the threat was not real after all. This reaction—adrenaline and the fight or flight mechanism—also takes a huge toll on your body and your health. Prolonged exposure to excessive ongoing adrenaline releases will eventually tear down your immune system.

Plus, whether or not you are aware of it, you will tend to believe your stories to be true. It then becomes easy to build one false story upon another. From there, you risk constructing an entire fear-based belief system and way of life—a life that’s very limiting and restrictive and founded on a couple of made-up rear-based stories.

But there is hope and another choice...F.E.A.R.: Face Everything And Rejoice.

When you face your fears and confront them rather than letting your assumptions run wild in your mind, you’ll find much of what you used to fear was not nearly as threatening as you once believed it was. You can begin to dispel the stories and assumptions, and you’ll get freedom from all this old fear. The primary difference is this model of Face Everything and Rejoice emanates from a place of conscious and empowered choice. It is the realization that your initial reaction may not be reality based.

This is a conscious model of responding instead of unconsciously and blindly reacting. Sometimes, moving from the destructive, limiting, unconscious and highly reactive F.E.A.R. to the hopeful, conscious and more responsive F.E.A.R, and separating false fear from fact, is as simple as asking yourself two simple questions:

"Is it true?" and "Where’s the evidence?"

When you begin to really look at, examine, and evaluate situations, you’ll often find your initial reaction may have been more intense, emotionally-based and irrational (a story) than actual reality.

Three other great questions to ask yourself when you start to feel fear are, “And then what?”, “What is the worst that could happen?” and “Can I handle that?” Ask and answer these questions and you’ll allow yourself to see these preconceived threats more clearly, which allows you to create a more grounded response. This response will flow consciously from making a choice, which is always more empowering, rather than from some old, out-dated unconscious conditioning.

When you respond this way, you’ll discover you can, and will, act in a much more adaptable manner. In other words, you’ll handle these situations by overriding the fight or flight mode, and create the intention for yourself that everything will be okay.

There is one affirming phrase I’d like to recommend to you above all the others:

I can handle this!

When you’re able to say this to yourself as a self-intervention (even if you don’t fully believe it), your mind starts to accept it. Remember, your mind may perceive some things as real whether or not they are. So, just as your mind accepts the negative, false fear-based stories it makes up as “real”, it will also tend to believe, even before you actually feel it to be true, the self-reassurance and confidence you instill merely because you think it and say it to yourself.

You might as well use this dynamic to your benefit and to your advantage. Once you’ve begun to formulate a different and more positive response, you may finally fully realize there is no threat at all.

You have a choice: The old F.E.A.R. or the new F.E.A.R. I know which one you desire and deserve, and I support you in creating a life of freedom through conscious responsiveness and self-intervention.

It is time you choose to rejoice!

Author's Bio

Ken Donaldson has been offering counseling, coaching, and educational programs since 1987. His programs are focused on empowering people to have more successful lives, businesses and relationships. Claim your FREE Relationship Success Special Report at www.marryufirst.com. Ken is the author of Marry YourSelf First! Saying "I DO" to a Life of Passion, Power and Purpose.

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

The Strangest Secret Success System for Free...

On a daily basis I have what I call creative time. I am always looking for avenues to serve our friends in recovery. In the audio by Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret, Earl states that we tend to take for granted the things we get for free. If we pay for something we tend to treat it better. As my creative time progressed today, I began to ponder offering a free course on the techniques of The Strangest Secret. I will mentor you in the same techniques that completely transformed my life in recovery and the lives of many of my recovered friends.

I pondered several questions:

What kind of value will folks place on this if I just give it away for free?
Should I limit attendance?
How will I hold people accountable if it is a free and voluntary service?
Can I make an impact in someone’s life?

Obviously, I have answered these questions and more in a way that has led me to offer my services for free. I practice the principles of the master, Earl Nightingale. One extremely important principle is service. The same laws of the universe guide all people. Therefore, The Last Resort Panama is offering “The Strangest Secret” success system for free. Yes, absolutely free, with no catches!

Here are the details:

My commitment to you:

I will offer you free of charge my coaching program based on “The Strangest Secret” success system. You will have my full commitment and attention as if you paid the $1,200 price tag.

Your commitment to me:

You will do exactly what you say you are going to do.
You will complete all assignments in the time frame allotted.
You will report your progress to me on a daily basis.

My requests of you:

If and only if you are satisfied with my program, I would like you to pass it on to others. I would like you to spread the word of The Last Resort Panama, Panama’s Premiere Recovery Center to friends, counselors, social workers, employers, EAP’s, Churches, and other referral sources. Finally, we would appreciate it if you would go to our web site daily to browse and read our site and send the site to everyone in your personal E-dress list.

These are simple requests; they are certainly not mandatory--simply friends helping friends. I am limiting his offer to the first 25 registered participants. To register, simply send me an email with the Subject, “register” to Daniel@thelastresortpa.com We are only accepting folks who have been abstinent for a minimum of one year or who currently work in the addictions field.

Thank you and remember: Life is Gooooood!!!

Dan ☺
The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

Helping others...

I met a young couple today, the husband has been drinking excessively for some time now. He is agreeing to get some help, but not without a bit of kicking and screaming that usually goes along with the idea of entering treatment. I listened to the wife explain to me her fear of where their marriage was heading. The idea of having children with this hanging over their head is not an option for her. I could see and feel the pain for her.

We all have a yearning to be happy. We all want to enjoy the pleasures of life. This young man indicated pointedly that he did not want to be the "Guy". The guy that drinks water... The guy that is different... Funny how we are so focused about what others will think that it becomes an excuse to continue to abuse! It is unbelievable that we are so willing to continue the destruction. Yet what family or friend looks at us and thinks "sure that is normal" to drink a pint or two of vodka alone in the morning? What a normal occurrence!

What the person with an addiction fails to see is the life beyond the drink or drug! Today my 14 year old son sent me a video he put together for us. In fact he was happier about the video he made then he was about the fact that he made the Junior Varsity Soccer Team! My children have never seen me with a drink of alcohol or a drug in my hand or mouth. They have been encouraged since day one to set goals, enjoy life, work hard and live a life of purpose.

I must admit that there is no drug or alcoholic beverage that has ever made me feel as happy and as loved as the video that I am sharing with you below! Why? Because a sober father with a 14 year old son Liam with the help of his 12 year old brother Seamus, put their hearts and soul into helping someone else!

Enjoy and pass it on...

Discover Your First Million in Recovery

Life is an Adventure Get busy Living it to its Fullest...

Recovery is about Living Your Life to its Fullest! Through the years I have seen many people give up on life. They confuse living life on life’s terms with settling for less then they are capable of. We are all here on this earth for a reason. We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all have the ability to be, do, and have anything we want.

As you probably know, the hit movie "The Secret" increased the world's awareness to the Law of Attraction, the principle that states that we are "responsible" for attracting to us everything that shows up in our lives. Now, we’re not taking about responsible in terms of blame or fault. However, if we are not feeling successful, happy, at peace, abundant, in good health, and surrounded by fun and loving people, it would serve us to examine how we have attracted these situations to us.

So, the question remains, "Exactly HOW do we manifest those things we want most in our lives?" How do we attract wealth and abundance? How do we attract supportive, loving people? How do we achieve blissful happiness and peace of mind and live an upset-free life?

The answer is simple although it is not easy. It takes work, commitment and it takes an experienced Mentor. Someone that knows what they are doing, where they are going, and knows how to help you to get to where you want to go.

I was interviewing a successful gentleman a number of years ago. I asked him what advice would you give to someone that is looking to achieve success in life? He said find someone that knows where they are going, and has a plan to get there. Then unlatch your little red wagon from what ever you have it attached to and hook it onto that leader. Because no one does it alone!

Take a couple of minutes right now and view the video “Discover Your First Million”. You may need to watch it more than once. Ask yourself the questions on the slides and answer them honestly. Then ask yourself this:

• How would I feel if money was no longer an issue?
• How would it feel if I made my decisions in life based upon my standards and not whether I can AFFORD it?
• If money was not an issue what challenges in life do I have?
• How would I feel if I could take a cash vacation 2 times a year to where ever I wanted to go?

No, money does not buy happiness. The love of money is as dangerous to your recovery as not having money if not more dangerous. Yet, if you could have unlimited resources without compromising your integrity wouldn’t that be nice?

If you want more out of life and you are willing to give it a shot, attach your little red wagon right here. Because I will take you to where you want to go. Give me a call now at 1-239-494-3318.

CHOICES WE MAKE

I am introducing you to a wonderful friend, Helen. Helen wrote this piece and it compelled me to place it on our Blogs to share with you. I think you can guess why I like the piece. It comes from the same perspective we have been teaching for years. The second reason I want to share it is because I believe that weight loss is a mega business today. I admit it I have tried all of the latest and greatest. I am a sucker for the Saturday morning infomercial! But, Helen's approach is about empowering folks to make the right choices. It is a practical system that is effective for sustainable life style choices.

Enjoy, Dan :)


CHOICES WE MAKE

We have a choice to either think about what is going wrong in our lives or to think about what is going right in our lives. I have found that most of the time our minds make the choice for us. This morning, as I was waking up, my mind started thinking about an upsetting situation that made me feel bad and took all my energy. After thinking about it for a while I realized either I could role play this situation in my head or I could think about something that puts a smile on my face. Making the choice to change my thinking took awhile, but slowly my thoughts started to change.

Why do we automatically start thinking about upsetting thoughts instead of happy ones? In considering this I came up with the following ideas:

Benefits of Thinking Upsetting Thoughts
1. Familiar feeling.
2. Not having control over the outcome of the situation, we start thinking about ways in which we can be in control.
3. It feels good to feel sorry for ourselves.
4. It gives us an excuse to procrastinate.
5. We are looking for sympathy from others.

Benefits of Thinking Happy Thoughts
1. It makes us feel good and gives us plenty of energy.
2. It motivates us.
3. It puts a smile on our face.
4. It develops self-confidence and we feel proud.
5. It creates commitment

We have a choice - either we can walk around feeling good or we can try to think of ways to change a situation that has already happened. Just for today, which choice will you make?

I know that thinking happy thoughts will give me more energy, motivation and put a smile on my face. The next question then becomes - how do you change those thoughts. What follows are some ideas in regards to this:

1. Acknowledge the thought and when the thought stops, start thinking about something that made you happy in the past.
2. While thinking the unhappy thought give yourself a big hug and say out loud, “I feel sorry for you and I love you.” Giving ourselves sympathy sometimes makes us feel better.
3. Journal about the situation and think of ways you can let go of the negative thoughts.
4. Put a smile on your face while you are thinking - usually the negative thought will disappear!
5. For today, don’t talk about your unhappy thoughts. Think about only what makes you happy.

Have a beautiful day and make a choice to think happy thoughts!
Helen J. Burton received her certification as a Coach and is a Love Yourself Coach working with individuals who are tired of struggling with food. After losing 70 pounds, and keeping it off since 1998, Helen realized she had a special gift of helping people with food struggles. Now Helen works with individuals who need more than a diet program to lose weight and live the life they always wanted, instead of just wishing for that life. Helen loves spending time having coffee with friends and spending quality time with her grandchildren. www.theloveyourselfcoach.blogspot.com.

To receive more tips about how to be kind to yourself while Getting Off the Diet Merry-Go-Round visit her blog at www.theloveyourselfcoach.blogspot.com.


The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

Living life to it’s fullest….

We are here for just a flicker! In the scheme of things our 75 to 100 years is nothing, it flies by. We need to make the most of it, every single day. We all have our talents, dreams, desires, wants, likes and dislikes. Evaluating them and compiling a Mission and Vision is the start of attaining and living a life to fulfill our purpose. Anything else is a waste!

Wow what a direct and bold statement. Ok take a second and think back, have you ever said to yourself or someone else, “what is this all about?” What is life about? Why am I here? What do I want to do in my life? What do I want to be when I grow up? If you answer yes to any of these questions you have questioned you purpose. You have what every reasonably minded person that I know of has, a desire to be, do and have. That is human nature! That is also what God wants of you. God wants you to become a better you!

So where do you start? First is to practice the A B C ‘s of a successful and joyous life:

A) Always Be Positive, follow the three rules of a positive mental attitude: 1) Always Be Positive, 2) Always Be Positive, 3) Always Be Positive!

B) Be a Student of Life; never ever stop growing. Read, listen to audio programs that are educational in nature, live, learn and love.

C) Cheerlead your friends, family and co-workers! Always offer praise to people but never offer praise if it is not due, yet keep the negatives to your self. Be happy for other people’s accomplishments.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. That is the key to reasonable happiness. I receive emails daily from folks that indicate that the writer has a lack of self-recognizable fulfillment in their life.

I was sober for 10 years and I felt as if I was just living day by day this dull and disillusioned life. I would tell you I was grateful to be sober and alive. I loved my friends and family, I just felt like something was missing. I had a strong belief and love of God. I knew that God loved me as well.

Yet, something was missing! I found out what that something is. I found the key to success. The key to change and to master living life to it’s fullest. If you want what I have you can do two things, 1) Search, keep reading my Blogs, email me on MySpace, or Facebook, read and listen to the stuff I read and listen(ed) to and develop the same tools that I have developed over the past 11 years of my life. Or 2) Register for my “Victory Coaching 2 Overcome” program if you are free of your drug of choice or if you are just beginning your journey of recovery start with my “Coaching 2 Overcome” program.

Enjoy the Journey Because Life is Gooooood!

Dan ☺

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

People Pleasing can also become an addiction, Carol Adler

This morning I received a phone call from a man who is attempting to rebuild his business--and his life. I've known this person for several years and followed him on a path that has taken him to the summit in his business successes and subsequently plunged him into the depths of despair.

Riddled by alcoholism and other co-dependencies, he felt helpless and alone, with nowhere to turn. Fortunately, however, he was surrounded by loving friends and an "angel" who sponsored a 90-day stay for him at a highly recommended recovery retreat.

Soon, through gentle and experienced mentoring, he began to realize he'd always felt he "wasn't good enough." He also realized he'd always been a "people pleaser." Many of his successes had little to do with who he was and what he really wanted to accomplish during his lifetime. it was all about everyone else--what they wanted him to be and how they wanted him to serve their wants and needs.

With the help of his recovery counselors and therapists, he came to realize these self-serving image makers couldn't possibly be associating with that person they perceived him to be, because he hadn't even met that person himself!

During our conversation this morning we discussed the embarrassing demonstration of alcoholism and drug using among celebrities, political figures and statesmen and women... how ugly and disfiguring it can be not only for the addicted individuals but, if they are public figures, for everyone they represent. "When the camera catches these scenes and displays them to the global population over the internet, it's over. A person can no longer hide from themselves," he declared.

He should know. That is exactly what happened to him a few years ago. By accident (and as you probably know, there are no accidents in this universe!) he viewed a video playback of himself only a few years ago, drunk and staggering into a packed auditorium where he was supposed to make a public speech on behalf of his company. The program facilitators had to help him onto the podium and one can only imagine what the speech was like.

"The camera captured it all," he said, "and to this day, I thank God for that video.That was the turn-around moment for me. I got It. And that "It" no longer had anything to do with others; now it was all about ME and the value I placed on myself. Would I now have enough guts to restructure my life? You bet!"

"Everything now looks different," he said in closing. "I'm so grateful just to be alive. That's the piece that's really changed. I forgave myself and asked others to also forgive me. But I don't look back. I'm here right now, doing my best. I will always be grateful to the loving, caring counselors and therapists at the retreat who were there for me during those first fragile steps of my recovery journey."

Carol Adler, MFA’s first ghost-written book listing her name as co-editor, Why Am I Still Addicted? A Holistic Approach to Recovery, was endorsed by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and published by McGraw-Hill. Other publications include three novels, four books of poetry, and well over 200 poems in literary journals. She has ghostwritten over 40 non-fiction and fiction works for a number of professionals in the education, health care and human potential industries.

Whats Different?

As a kid I always felt different. Sometimes I felt superior to people and sometimes I felt inferior. Very rarely did I identify with people as being on the same planet. As my addiction picked up throughout my teens and 20’s I became convinced I was different.

I remember I was forced to sit with a substance abuse counselor for a pre-probation interview. The counselor asked me a series of questions, I answered honestly well at least I thought I was being honest. For example one question he asked me if I had ever “blacked out” due to the use of alcohol? I had no idea what he meant by “blackout”. I assumed it was the times I could not remember anything from the night before after a night of partying. To me that was not a problem, in fact it was one of those things that I was proud of. It meant I had a good night. Besides if you take Seconal and drink alcohol you would black out as well! So my answer was “No”.

Well I did have a couple of yes answers. When I completed the questions he said to me, Dan if you answered two or more questions with a yes you may have a problem with alcohol. I thought to myself 2 out of 20 why wasn’t high school that easy? Heck 65% is passing in my book. Besides I am not an alcoholic! I never lost a job due to alcohol, I simply quit showing up! I was always different!

When I finally recovered I was told to identify with the feelings that people were sharing and do not compare myself to them. I was a bit on the paranoid side as well. If I shared with in the group and someone shared after me and indicated they had me in mind, I would share again to straighten them out! Finally, the pain was so great that I began to listen, open my mind and became willing to do something differently.

Over time I have learned that as much as we feel we are different we are more alike then we are different. Research suggests today that 85% of the population in the US has a history of dysfunction. If that is the case then why is there a 1 in 18 ratio or less than 6% of American’s afflicted with alcoholism? (* My disclaimer, there is a difference in the effects (and the choices we make when using) of alcohol on the individual that is afflicted with what I call “The Creature” i.e. alcoholism/addiction.)

Why do I bring this up? It is natural to want to make sense of it all. It is part of human nature to question and develop our perception of reality. But do not get caught up in what I call “Crack-Pot Functionalism”. Basing how the world functions on how they make sense of the world. That is dangerous.

Here is my point; your life is personal. Your recovery is personal. Treat it that way. There are several methods, techniques and programs designed to assist you in the recovery process. Find the one that works for you. But realize this in the process. Recovery is not solely the abstinence of your drug of choice.

Recovery is a term that has emerged from the integration of the professional addictions communities, the 12-step community, and the Religious communities. Bill and Bob considered themselves “Recovered” from alcoholism. This is not a debate as to “is an alcoholic or substance abuser in recovery or recovered”. It is solely a bit of insight into how much we are alike as “Human Becomings”.

We all operate in the same universe under the same laws and principles. There are no exceptions. True recovery is living your life with direction, a clear path free of any foreign substance. The attainment of a worthy goal or ideal is the path. You are no different than anyone else in the world when it comes to living life on life’s terms. It is dangerous to think otherwise.

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

Coaching 2 Overcome University is here:

“Coaching 2 Overcome” University!

Yes it is finally here, we have been swamped with requests to train a new class of addiction coaches in the “attraction methods program”. People that have successfully recovered from alcohol and or substance abuse enjoy sharing the principles that not only helped them to overcome addiction but gave them the vision of a glorious future.

In the recovery field there is nothing like getting mentored by someone that has “been there and done that!” The field of social work and counseling is full of folks that have overcome issues in their personal lives and have decided to give back to their fellow humans in distress.

Our 12-week mentoring program will prepare you to coach and mentor people in various stages of overcoming. You will gain the knowledge and tools to assist a family, friend or employer to arrange for professional intervention services to advanced vocational mentoring for the recovered individual. This program is limited to 18 serious and committed registrants. The instructor is Daniel “Dan” Callahan, LMSW.

Dan is an effective trainer of trainers. His training experience includes various train-the-trainer curriculums for the NYS Office of Mental Health. He has his Masters Degree from Fordham University. He is an expert on the SelfGrowth.com network and is a master of Earl Nightingales, “Lead the Field” training program.

Dan’s methods and techniques are the basis for the Last Resort Panama’s Recovery Center. The curriculum entails the basics of addiction, substance abuse prevention, Bio/Psycho/Social Factors in Addiction, intervention, rehabilitation vs. recovery, The Law of Attraction, What is strengths based practice, mentorship, facilitation techniques and medical & social treatment models.

This is an alternative training to the traditional medical model of treatment. This is not certification training for State Certified Addictions Counselors. Typically, States require that a person who is giving addiction counseling be certified or licensed. If you want to work in a school as a substance abuse counselor then you are required to be licensed.

While certification for addiction counseling is mandatory in most situations, the specific requirement for licensing varies between states, cities and even employers. Most have set a bachelor's degree as the minimum expectation but many expect those giving addiction and substance abuse counseling to have achieved a master's degree.

This training is a practical guide to becoming a mentor, coach and facilitator in the methods and techniques of our “Attraction Methods Program”. Here are the benefits of this training:

1) Weekly group tele-seminars and webinars will be held. Unlimited e-mail access and telephone access to Dan.
2) Weekly lesson plans and assignments.
3) Informational self-study E-books.
4) Learn the methods and techniques of the Masters of Transformation.
5) Each graduate will be a part of our Mentors and Coaches Network.
6) Each graduate will be listed in our website coaching directory.
7) Each graduate will have his or her own information and contact page on our web site. This is a huge benefit, go to MSN.com and search the keyword drug and alcohol rehab, The Last Resort Panama is listed number two. That is an organic listing.
8) Each graduate will be contracted by our admissions department to complete our guest intakes. A $250 fee will be paid for every completed intake.
9) Each graduate will be added to our after care preferred coach and mentor list.
10) Each graduate will receive Earl Nightingales, “Lead the Field” audio set and the original “The Strangest Secret” and a personalized welcome note from Diana Nightingale the “First Lady of Transformation”.
11) More to be announced.

This program is more than an educational experience; it is life transforming for you and those you serve. Consider this as well. 99% success in business is sales. Most people spend their time setting things up. Making sure they have the right computers and software. Their office must be perfectly professional. They focus on everything except, “SALES”.

The Coaching 2 Overcome University not only educates you to be a coach and mentor, but we provide you with a network of referral sources. This offer is limited to 18 students. Do not hesitate if you want a career and a business opportunity that you can run from home, Coaching 2 Overcome University is for you!

Universities on average charge students $4,000 per semester. Hazelden charges $10.75 per hour and the course is 1,096 hours, over $11,000 for the course. If you have ever been to college you know that your books are not included! An average college text book is approximately $75 today, 2 per class and 4 classes, well you do the math.

Your investment is $1,000 for the entire program. There are two options, pay $100 reservation fee to hold your space and $300 per month due on the 20th of each month. Or you can make a one-time Paypal payment of $750. Space is limited so act now.

For additional questions please feel free to contact Dan at 239-494-3318



" If you’re passionate about what it is you do, then you’re going to be looking for everything you can to get better at it."
- Jack Canfield.

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

Follow-up The Pursuit of Light...

I am forwarding this e-mail to you for a couple of reasons. First, I wrote about Sandy Brewer’s book “Pursuit of Light, an Extraordinary Journey” a week or so ago and want to share her thoughts with you.

Secondly, we will be implementing in the fall our “Winners Circle” an opt in group that will receive some free extremely useful information, mp-3’s, webinars and teleseminars featuring special guests. Sandy will be one of those people that we will ask to share some of her important work with you.

Dear Dan --

It is with such deep appreciation that I write to you today. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your kind words, beautiful support, and for the many ways you have put your support of me and the work that I do into action.

I was touched by your letter re: Pursuit of Light. The book impacts people from many different angles, and, as you know, I wrote it with bare bones honesty. But the purpose of it is to empower and uplift -- to use my story as one of many world-wide examples of the startling power of the spirit of all that we are, and the healing powers that are innate within us no matter where we have been. Human life is such an amazing experience, but when we are lost in the "chemical soup" of the past, it is hard to pull out of that swampy mess. I applaud you for the work you are doing with others and the ways in which you are offering them a pathway to choice and a new day. Thank you for all that you contribute.

If you feel Pursuit of Light could initially be too much of a trigger (when I see that, I usually recommend that people read the second part of the book first which is more filled with the lessons than how I got to the lessons!), some other inspirational authors you might like to recommend besides Napoleon Hill -- who is wonderful -- are Joel Goldsmith, Ernest Holmes, Joseph Murphy. Personally, I loved "The Alchemist." Dan Millman's "Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior" is great for jump-starting metaphoric lessons, as is the movie based on the book. And, of course, there's always Richard Bach's "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" and "Illusions." I still have a lithograph hanging in my office from Illusion's: "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly." How beautiful for all of us who have chosen personal transformational as our vehicle for healing. Also a Camus quote "In the midst of winter I have found within me an invincible summer." That's the power of choice!

For those who might be more linearly wired, Candace Pert's "Molecules of Emotion," Dan Amen's "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," or Michael Talbot's "The Holographic Universe" might offer insights for others as to how their brain/neurological plumbing actually works and what the biochemical process of addiction and pain actually is.

The bottom line, of course, is to learn that love and judgment are antithetical, and that only through love, beginning with ourselves no matter what that entails... well, only then will we truly soar!

Once again, Dan, you are a gem. My heart is moved and filled with your kindness and generosity.

Blessings to you always,

Sandy


The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

Drug and Alchol Rehab, Clear Concise Mental Picture...

A clear concise mental picture of what you want to attain is exactly what is necessary to win.

In Beijing the summer Olympics are in full swing. This morning Michael Phelps won his 3rd Gold medal in as many days. As reported on MSN.FoxSports.com; In winning the 200-meter freestyle Tuesday, Phelps ran his career Olympic total to nine golds and avenged his only individual loss in Athens four years ago, when a 19-year-old Phelps took on the 200 free just so he could compete with Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband.

He finished third that night in what was called the "Race of the Century." This time, it was hardly a race at all. … "I hate to lose," he said. "When you lose a race like that, it motivates me even more to try to swim faster."

Yes but Dan Michael Phelps is an Olympic Athlete, I am a factory worker! And your point is? You are correct winning in life is not about winning gold medals, money, or status. Yesterday I received a personal comment on one of my Blogs. She said that it seemed that I was implying that winning in life had everything to do with status and money. She said she believes that money should mean little when it comes to success.

As you may notice I enjoy answering these types of emails openly (I always protect the identity of the author). I do this because most folks do not like to ask questions. I believe that if one person is interpreting my message this way there is probably more as well.

Briefly on the issue of money, money is earned by people in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of service they perform. Money is necessary. It is the love of money that is detrimental to successful living.

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. Therefore, I believe that you are the one that determines success in your life. We are born with a desire to succeed. In my years in the recovery community I have noticed guys and gals attain marvelous feats. They seem to have everything you would ever want in life. They have arrived! Then one day you hear that they have passed away, or they are actively using again.

What happened? They stopped living, they stopped dreaming, they settled for their level of success! It is so important to have meaning in your life. That may or may not have anything to do with earning money. Add recovery to my definition of success. Successful recovery is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal. Ask Lenny from New Hampshire celebrating his first anniversary of sobriety today!!!

Congratulations Lenny!

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa www.recoveryforum.ning.com

The Last Resort Pa, Drug and Alcohol Rehab The Place To Be….. If You Need To Be….

If you are serious about living an enriched and prosperous life, join us on the Recovery Forum.

View my page on Recovery Forum

Victory, Coaching 2 Overcome

As a recovered person I look back and realize that through the years I had this feeling of emptiness. A persistent loneliness, I would be in a crowd of people partying or hanging with my friends and still had this sense of being alone! I would think to myself is this what life is all about? What am I doing, where am I going?

I remember one summer Friday evening I was out with my best friend and our girlfriends. We were heading to the club to party. I had recently been arrested and when I was bailed out the judge said to me, "Mr. Callahan, you have a problem and it is not ice cream, you need to get your life in Order!" I laid my head on the back seat headrest and stared to the sky. My girlfriend said to me, what is wrong? I remember saying out loud for the first time ever; I think I am an alcoholic!

The three of them began to laugh and John spoke up and said, are you kidding me? You can't be an alcoholic, because I am not an alcoholic and I drink more than you! It did not take much for me to believe him, I said lets stop at 7-11 and pick up an 8-pack of Bud!

That was 1980, and it did not end there. I had always been a happy kid. I was a bit of a jokester I loved to have fun. But the next 8 years were anything but! That feeling of hopelessness never went away. If you were with me, it seemed like I was having fun and enjoying life. But deep inside of me was a yearning to be more, to do more.

I tried therapy, psychiatrists, psychologists, church, AA, education, and more but nothing seemed to work. In therapy we explored my childhood, the psychologist had me labeled ADD with Dystymia, The psychiatrist upgraded me to depression and put me on medications, I had no idea which way to turn.

Then I finally surrendered. I recovered from drug and alcohol abuse. But, the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy remained. I went to therapy as suggested. Took my meds as suggested. Went to church, support group, got a sponsor, and remained hell bent on overcoming this sense of "poor me".

We are all a sum total of our beliefs and our experiences. I bought in to the dysfunctional syndrome. I sought out the child within, delved deep into my childhood history. Yet, only the surface level stuff changed.

Then I started to think differently, I returned to college. My studies taught me to challenge everything. Be open to new ideas and theories. I worked in the human service field with adolescents. I began to make a difference in their lives.

But then it happened, I received a sales brochure in the mail for a program called "Lead the Field" an enrichment program by Earl Nightingale on the work "The Strangest Secret" an accounting and guide to implement The Law of Attraction.

It was like night and day, a spark went off and I began to live my life differently. The video attached is a program offering you or someone you may know "The Key" to implementing radical positive change in their life. A proven system that starts from where you are focuses on your strengths and guides you in your thinking, choices and direction for abundant life. Recovery is the beginning of living a life of joy, prosperity and service. Invest wisely in yourself you are worth it!





The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa

Drug and Alcohol Rehab, The sad truth...

This is an e-mail letter I received from my friend Liam of Stardust Interventions. Liam assists friends, families and employers across the United States with addictions interventions. He has a network of supports across the country and is one of the most forward thinkers in the field today.

Dan ☺

Good morning Dan,

Just thought I'd pop off an e-mail to you this morning and say hey. I received e-mail from a family who chose not do an intervention with their son this past June. Their son slipped into another coma four days ago and passed away. My heart really goes out to the family but as you and I know, addictions never get better by themselves.

Dan,

I follow up with families who call and decide not to intervene on a regular basis and the results are almost always the same, no change, or things have become worse. This man who died had been to other treatments before and left AMA every time. I really feel we have a chance to change things around in recovery and make a huge difference in the lives of others and eventually society as a whole.

There is such a difference between being sober and being productive and successful. I admit that sober is the first step, but for me just being sober was not enough. I wanted to make a good life for myself, and my family while making a contribution to others. The Medical model of treatment works for a precious few and God bless them for finding a way out! I also know that model will not work for most people. I believe we need to teach others how to shape their worlds in the image of success and hope for others.

Those were just a few thoughts today after being rattled by that sad email.

~Liam

"Only one thing in the universe is more powerful than a person's mind, that is the Creator Himself!"


The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa

Hidden Miracles of the Wrong Choice

Hidden Miracles of the ‘Wrong Choice’
by Carol Adler*

Sometimes without even knowing what we’re doing, we end up traveling on a one-way street the “wrong” way. Feelings of failure or regret about making the “wrong choice” make us feel even worse.

Alcohol, drug and other addictions soothe and medicate the pain and may even make it possible to sleep through our own crash landing.

When we wake up, however, the pain is even greater.

So now, here’s the big question: In the midst of all this despair, how could it be possible that a miracle is just around the corner—one that is custom-made just for you or me—or anyone?

How can all this bad stuff be re-constructed into a New Life and a New You?

The Secret to Recovery

Some of you have already discovered that you not only asked for all those feelings fear, anger, resentment and a deep sense of emptiness inside—but you actually called them in from the universe.

Yep, that was you standing on a mountain and calling: “Hey You Up There! I need something large and challenging enough with enough friction to make me wake up to the greater reality of life—to all the gifts I have inside that are just waiting for me to rub two sticks together to start my fire!”

Wow! Is that really you talking? And is anybody listening?

You bet they are! Thousands, possibly millions of people just like you have created enormous challenges in their lives just so they could get to the point of no return—and then turn that corner.

I know this is true because I’m one of those persons who’s been there, done that… and the first lesson I learned was that there is no “wrong” in this world, just as there is no such thing as “failure” or “not being good enough.” These are self-created illusions.

The secret to recovery is allowing yourself to look in the mirror and say, “Here’s where I am today and I accept that, just as I accept that the past is behind me. I also forgive myself for whatever I felt I needed to put myself through in order to get to this Powerful Point of Decision.

“THANK YOU, Higher Self or Whoever You Are, for opening my eyes. Now I’m ready to create a Win-Win for you and for me and everyone else!”

Win-Win Stories

You may think your personal recovery story is ordinary because you are not a rock star, super-athlete or film celebrity. You are just you.

Yet somehow that former addiction to “being nobody” or “poor me, ain’t it awful” isn’t working the way it used to, is it? And why not? Because you have now acknowledged and affirmed that every person is unique and no one’s life is ordinary—certainly not yours!

The process of reviewing your life and exploring all those ping!—ping! moments of joy and self-pride can be one of the most exciting journeys you will ever take. Your story really is a Win-Win that the whole world wants to hear. They want to know how you got from there to here—what that moment of decision felt like and what happened to you inside as soon as you “saw the light,” or “took that first step.”

However it happened for you is exactly how it can happen for millions of others—and YOU can be the person to make a difference in their lives by sharing your successful recovery story with them.

Tell it to us!

Your breakthrough adventure is filled with miracles and triumphant moments that others will be eager to read about.

The Last Resort Pa, www.thelastresortpa.com, a state-of-the-art recovery facility located in Chiriqui, Panama, is collecting stories for the first of a series of Win-Win Recovery books that it plans to publish and distribute widely.

The only requirement for being included in this collection is to show up; send us your story. You don’t have to be a writer; you don’t even have to be a storyteller. We’ll do the writing and publishing. If you prefer to talk into a recorder or do an interview by phone, we’ll also do the transcription.

The story will be yours, listed with your by-line unless you prefer to remain anonymous. In all instances, your privacy will be respected.

If you have any questions or if you’re ready to tell us your story, contact us at Us@TheLastResortPa.com

Tell your friends and relatives about our project

You may know others who would like to share their Win-Win Recovery stories to support our firm belief that shared love and compassion are two of the most important gifts we can offer our brothers and sisters, regardless of their circumstances today. Tomorrow CAN be better!

Tell your friends, relatives and associates about our Win-Win-Recovery Story project and have them get in touch with us.


* Carol Adler, MFA’s first ghost-written book listing her name as co-editor, Why Am I Still Addicted? A Holistic Approach to Recovery, was endorsed by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and published by McGraw-Hill. Other publications include three novels, four books of poetry, and well over 200 poems in literary journals. She has ghostwritten over 40 non-fiction and fiction works for a number of professionals in the education, health care and human potential industries. Carol is President of Dandelion Books, LLC, www.dandelion-books.com of Tempe, Arizona; and Dandelion Enterprises, Inc., www.write-to-publish-for-profit.com.


The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa

Drug and Alcohol Rehab: The Law of Attraction

During the first decade of this millennium the DVD “The Secret” hit the world by storm. The author of The Secret hinted at a grand historical conspiracy to keep the information or more specifically “The Law of Attraction” secret from the world. Well that may be what Rhonda Byrne believed but the truth is it has never been a secret. It is not a conspiracy by the “Haves” to keep the “Have Nots” in their place!

In 1956 Earl Nightingale recorded “The Strangest Secret”. At the time Earl owned a small insurance company. Earl actually recorded the session for his sales force to listen to while he was away for a trip. The recording became so popular that it was released to the public.

Earl did not claim that he had news of this suppressed secret of success. Actually he states just the opposite. In Earl’s humble words, it is not a secret at all. The teachings go back since the beginning of recorded time! The Bible is full of instruction on “The Law of Attraction”. The truth is that people fail to “Think”. They conform, in fact most people continue to live and teach their children to operate by the rules of the industrial age. They teach their children to go to school, get good grades and get a job. Conformity! Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Additionally, in one segment of the recording of The Strangest Secret Earl states that often folks develop theories and techniques based upon these principles and market them as if they are original. They are not original. For all of us in the self-improvement industry we are the sum total of what we have read, researched, listened to, and been taught from the time we are born.

This is not a slight or an accusation against the account offered in “The Secret”. I am actually grateful for the emergence of this piece of work. It has brought to the forefront a sense of desire and commitment of people to seek change. For those of us in the self-improvement field that is good news! Fortunately, the video only instructs on the theory behind the Law of Attraction, it offers no significant technique on how to apply it into everyday life. Furthermore, in the sub-culture of recovery it minimizes the necessity for additional techniques in the process.

Today, it seems that everywhere you look there are lecturers, authors, and coaches, coaching programs, all offering their absolute key to success for your life. More pointedly, typically these approaches are marketed to you as a way to make you wealthy. They claim to have the key, the perfect product, or business opportunity (now disguised as an affiliate program) that will lead you to riches beyond belief. They have you dream dreams of living the life of the celebrity without the paparazzi.

If the truth were known, the basis for the information is reality. The “Law of Attraction” is exactly what it says, a “Law”. In fact it is as much a law as the “Law of Gravity” is a law. The improvement programs that folks offer, the books on improvement and many of the products and business opportunities are wonderful tools. The methods are not original, yet they work.

I am one of those people that choose to not point out why my techniques are better or why the other techniques are incorrect! As a matter of fact, I believe that for a majority of the theories, strategies and techniques there are benefits. Someone can use the information and win with it. Therefore, if that were true then why would I say any differently? Besides, there are so many people and variables in this world that may require a different strategy or approach.

Now that is not to say that I am wishy-washy about the strategies I assist folks to implement. No, not only do I believe in them I bank my life on them. Personally, I believe they are the absolute way to life long success, prosperity and recovery. Nowhere will you find solutions to living that match the “Shaping” program that I teach. That is a 100% guarantee.

Our “Shaping” program is designed to start from where you are. If you are an active user of your drug of choice, “Real Life Rehab” a social model intensive resort style rehabilitation program is for you. If you can abstain from the use of your drug of choice and you legitimately can’t free up the time to visit our center, our “Coaching 2 Overcome” program is for you. Maybe you are a person recovered from your drug of choice. Whether it is months or years, our “Victory Coaching 2 Overcome” program is for you.

Whether you have tried other methods and failed or this is your introduction to the world of abstinence The Last Resort Pa is the answer. Our programs have a limited capacity so do not hesitate. An individual “shaping” program with me is $15,000 for a week, and I limit that to one individual a month. Therefore, the value of our advertised shaping programs is phenomenal. Once again Do Not Hesitate and miss this opportunity. Your life and success depends upon it.


The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com www.facebook.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/thelastresortpa www.myspace.com/tlrpa

Recovery Forum

My grandparents were part of the industrial age in the world’s history. They raised my parents to think and live within the rules of that multi generational stage of our history.
Somewhere between then and now the world shifted to what is now termed the information age. Yes there are numerous generations within this stage of our history as well. But never before in our history have we been able to work as efficiently.

Computerization has taken over the ineffectiveness of paper and other manual systems. The Internet has changed the way we live our lives today. We shop on it, we study, we learn, we make friends, communicate much more effectively and much more.

If you utilize the Internet and email at all you are aware of some of the inconveniences of this great medium. With this awesome potential comes potential difficulty. Some of the challenges are extreme and some of them gnats on a summer evening!

Heck if you have children you have some concern about the use of the Internet by them. Predators lurk, kids behind a computer will say things that they would not have the courage to say in front of their peers. Then there are those folks that for whatever reason that need to develop and spread computer viruses.

Of course there are the little things like spam mail. I am getting a bit of a complex I get Viagra offers daily! Personally I just delete the junk as I go. But, we do mailers to churches, social workers, human service agencies, and other referral sources as well. You would not believe how some of the people in the helping profession handle junk mail! The things they write back to me have had me think what the heck is this person thinking! Hit delete buddy! We are sending you an informational release for those you serve.

In recovery, the social network scene has become a blessing. Meetings, availability to talk to another recovered person, help, friendship, love and more abound. But with the good comes the bad. Heck in the same way it is easier for our children to say things they couldn’t say face to face with a peer of the opposite sex. It is that much easier for an adult to do the same, only with the latest Amway product, or miracle drug or the system that runs itself and makes you rich! For doing nothing! Or maybe you just don’t want to be bombarded with the next Mob War or whatever request right when you need some serious information!

Well it is in that spirit that the Recovery Forum exists. A place to go to share, care, make friends, yes you can offer your services but services that add value to our world. We expect services that enhance the recovered person’s growth or enhance their recovery experience. If you want to share your experience strength and hope the Recovery Forum is for you. If you have ideas, or products to offer run them by us, we will listen. If you are in recovery, support folks that are or you just want the support of those of us that have recovered, please come join us at www.recoveryforum.ning.com

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com

Drug and Alchol Rehab: Diana Nightingale Conversation

I am honored and joyous to have recently had the opportunity to speak with Diana Nightingale, “The First Lady of Transformation”. Diana is the widow of the late Earl Nightingale, Author of “The Strangest Secret”. Diana has continued the legacy of Earls message and the key to success, “We Become What We Think About”.

Diana is a force in and of herself. Her accomplishments include; an internationally known speaker, a life coach and mentor to people around the world and the author of "Learning to Fly as a Nightingale” A biographical, motivational love story. This is a personal look into the lives of Diana and Earl Nightingale before they met and married; a glimpse at their love story, and the inspiring story of how Diana found the courage to go on after Earl’s passing.

Diana commended our work at The Last Resort Panama an innovative drug and alcohol rehab. She commented on how it is so easy to make excuses to continue to drink and drug because of family history or other traumatic factors. Yet, if people learn and implement the Key their lives would be transformed.

Diana points out that Earls principles are more powerful now then ever before in our history. Unless you live under a rock you have heard of the DVD “The Secret”. An expose’ on the Law of Attraction, released in this millennium. In the 1950’s Earl released “The Strangest Secret” based on the same principles. With a major twist, Earl taught techniques to implement these principles. Earl taught techniques and not theories.

As a recovered person and sober for over 20 years, I can attest that Earls principles and techniques are the key to success. In 1998, I received a sales card in the mail. It was from Earl Nightingale offering his success system “Lead the Field” based on his great work, “The Strangest Secret”. I do not know what possessed me to purchase the set, but I did.

I was a licensed social worker with a Masters Degree from Fordham University. Through the years some of my therapists had worked with me from the standpoint of fixing a broken person and the medical model of treatment instructed us to assist folks this way, but I did not agree. I taught folks differently but I would go in and out of negative thinking in my personal life, what a contradiction!

Well, when I heard this tape set it completely changed my life. I listened to Earl daily (and continue to listen frequently) I set goals, and began to change tremendously. I looked back at my recovery and my work in the field. I realized the changes that I had made were a result of the techniques that Earl taught. I began to teach people these same techniques with radical results...

In the world-renowned story Earl announced to the world, the tale of "Acres of Diamonds". Earl speaks of how in 1884 Dr. Russell Conwell founded Temple College, which became Temple University in 1907. High school graduates requested that Dr. Conwell teach them college courses. These adolescents did not have the means to attend college. After some debate and prayer Dr Cronwell raised the funds to start Temple College so that folks could attain an affordable higher education. It is in this spirit, offering affordable recovery services and utilizing the techniques of Earl Nightingale that The Last Resort Panama thrives!

Whether you are new to recovery, have struggled throughout the years, or you have attained freedom from the use and abuse of foreign substances The Last Resort has a program to assist you in attracting a prosperous life.

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com

Drug and Alcohol Rehab Program

I continue to be asked what is The Last Resort Panama, Panama’s Premiere Recovery Center? It is my privilege to share with you some highlights about what we offer here at The Last Resort Panama’s “Real Life Rehab” Program. Chiriqui Panama is arguably one of the most exotic environment’s imaginable. Recognized for aesthetic beauty and spiritual qualities, it is truly a wondrous place for recovery. It is this serene and tropical environment, which permits a clear focus on the work that we help our participants to address.

Within this environment, The Last Resort Panama is distinctive for its comprehensive program and our exceptional teamwork. Through a variety of traditional and nontraditional methods, we provide an opportunity for recovery, and to gain clarity as to what is most meaningful in an individual’s life.

Up until now the resort style recovery center has been reserved for the elite. I consider The Last Resort Panama the perfect conduit for recovery. It is my belief that the unconditional support, compassion and love provided here at The Last Resort Panama will assist a participant in transforming pain and fear into hope and self-love.

What is “Real Life Rehab”? It is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program designed to offer the participant a safe, affordable, path into the recovery process. The program itinerary is 90 days, however, we are aware that for some folks 90 days away from everyday life would place a terrible strain on their family or employment responsibilities. For these folks a 28-day and a 28-day with a 60-day intensive aftercare programs are available.

The basis for “Real Life Rehab” is building the recovery foundation, “rehabilitation” in a natural environment. The Last Resort Panama operates as a unique social model of treatment. Guests at the center participate in normal activities and learn as they go. Individual therapy may be done swimming, shooting the basketball, or any other activity on an individual basis with a licensed professional.

During the stay at The Last Resort Panama a participant will receive a thorough dental exam, at no expense to the guest. We believe that many individuals in the throws of addiction fail to take care of their teeth. Fees for additional dental services are extremely inexpensive and available by choice. A participant will receive a thorough medical exam as well. Chiropractic services and massage therapy are available at no additional cost to the guest as well.

There are four phases of “Real Life Rehab”:

1) Admission, the process an individual applies to admit that they want to change.
2) Set a clear path for recovery.
3) Clean out the dirty laundry.
4) Focus, Forgive and Fulfill.

These stages are implemented via various strategies, techniques, and activities. When a participant arrives at the center they will edit and direct a short music video of their life and feelings. Prior to their return home they will complete a new video with their new outlook on life! Educational and vocational strategies are addressed as well. Activities include team building activities, exploratory trips to places like coffee plantations, Volcan Baru and the cloud forest in Boquete, the hot springs of Caldera, or a day surfing or learning to surf and much more. Sundays at the beach, pool, canyon dive and or river swims.

These activities are all treatment based and not a vacation away as much as it may seem to the untrained eye. Living life on life’s terms is not a statement of endurance. We believe that life is to be enjoyed and not endured. We are discussing enjoyment on a spiritual level and not a hedonistic idea of pleasure. Learning how to enjoy the challenges and decisions that an individual will make in their life is a skill set.

A guest at The Last Resort can expect quality service and professional recovery support. The center is small in comparison to traditional drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers. Therefore, our professional addictions facilitators carry small caseloads. With a maximum of 10 guests at the center a guest can expect an enormous amount of individual care. Relationships play an important role in the recovery process. The relationships built at the center may continue indefinitely! A participant at The Last Resort becomes part of a healthy family.

It is our Mission to serve individuals and their families afflicted with addiction. We encourage spousal participation when reasonably appropriate. Our family centered approach allows a couple to participate in the recovery process together, yet, allowing the necessary space to address the individual addictive and dysfunctional aspects of recovery as well.

My commitment to you is that you can count on a compassionate team of highly skilled professional staff working with you or your loved one. It is our intention to find a recovery path that works for the participant and to strive toward establishing a direction plan that will support an extraordinary life. No one deserves to live in pain or despair. The Last Resort Panama’s “Real Life Rehab” Program is here to guide and support the journey of recovery.

Thank you and be well,

Daniel Callahan, LMSW

The Last Resort Panama, Drug and Alcohol Rehab www.Thelastresortpa.com

Drug and Alcohol Rehab: Pursuit of Light, An Extraordinary Journey

When it comes to recovery the rehabilitation process can be described as difficult at best. Often individuals and families have responded to their personal traumas differently. There was a time in my life that the “why” of it all seemed so important. I would read about the experiences of folks that responded differently to the same, similar or radically worse experiences and they came out the other side of it all extremely differently.

Slowly over the course of time and my studies I have developed techniques to overcome these varying oppressive responses. As an individual that has experienced varying degrees of trauma as well I looked at my responses that worked and did not. As I have come to find out, many of my experiences have created a sense of self-guilt, shame and fear. These feelings are cunning, baffling and quite frankly, lies.

Sandy was 13 years old and pregnant for the second time. No, this is not a story of a modern day teenage pregnancy this is February 1957. The father of the baby is Sandy’s father on both occasions. For more than three years, her father has raped Sandy on a daily basis.

The first pregnancy was terminated but this time Sandy was taken to deliver the child and give the child up for adoption. But Sandy has other options on her mind. On that blustery February evening Sandy makes her way to the nursery where she locates her son. She wraps her sleeping son into her coat and escapes from the adoption center.

Sandy makes her way miles from the center to an abandoned building. It is there that she stops and comes to the realization that her son, her future, her reason to live has passed on.

Sandy Brewer is the author of “Pursuit of Light, An Extraordinary Journey.” Her book accounts a horrific childhood, including parental verbal abuse, physical abuse, an attempt on her life by her parents and the incomprehensible brutal daily rape from the age of 10 to 14 by her father!

Through all of this terror Sandy sought the “Light”, to survive. Yet through it all Sandy carried this inconceivable guilt, this incredible lie that she was a terrible human being for causing the death of her son! This is the lie this is the incredible power of our mind. This is what creates this sense of self-guilt, shame and fear.

Some modes of treatment start with the premise that this trauma is the underlying cause of the addiction. Treat the symptom and you treat the person. I am not here to debate the causes of addiction nor any specific treatment modality. I am keenly aware that we all utilize both positive and negative coping mechanisms to alleviate the pain. We use these self-developed tools to stay alive and to avoid a complete mental breakdown. For some of us we use foreign substances.

On page 100 of this exemplary piece of work, Sandy states, “The launch point for our potentials begins and ends with us, for it is not what happens to us in life that is the greatest challenge. What we decide to do with it will determine how we lead ourselves up the mountain.”

At The Last Resort Panama, Panama’s premiere recovery center we are prepared to assist you with what Sandy outlines in chapter 22 as the choices necessary to achieve change:

1) Adopt a living-philosophy/point of view/passionate belief system that is greater than your history and/or pain.
2) Make the choice that you are not the victim.
3) Let go of your attachment to drama.
4) Do unto others… Life is in many ways a mirror. The ways in which you repeatedly, both overtly and covertly, criticize/judge others is a reflection back to yourself…

Recovery starts with rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is the foundation for your recovery. Without it your recovery is grounded in sand. Let The Last Resort Panama help you build your recovery, your legacy, you deserve it.

Peace,


Dan ☺