#194: Tommy Rosen: Addiction, Awareness, & Recovery

Profit with Purpose by Anna Goldstein

Tommy Rosen is a yoga teacher and addiction recovery expert who has spent the last two decades immersed in recovery and wellness. He holds advanced certifications in both Kundalini and Hatha Yoga and has 31 years of continuous recovery from drug addiction. He is the founder and CEO of the Recovery 2.0 Global Community, where he runs online conferences, group coaching, and coach training programs. He is the author of Recovery 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life. I met Tommy at a retreat in Maui, Hawaii. It was fun to reconnect to have him share his wisdom and expertise!

In this interview, we talk about awareness, addiction, and recovery. This conversation is not about judgment. Tommy talks about his own crippling experiences with cannabis only as an example of addiction, referring to his past use of it as a mere “balm” for his pain rather than medicine. You can substitute cannabis with any behavior you continue to engage in despite the fact that it brings negative consequences into your life. The purpose of this discussion is to gain more insight and awareness into your life so that you can be your best. To Tommy, it all comes down to asking powerful questions of awareness and discernment, so that you can create a new identity based on your authentic self!

Sneak-peek:

• Tommy defines “addiction” from the broad perspective of “any behavior that you continue to do despite the fact that it brings negative consequences into your life.” [3:14]
• He explains how we can catch ourselves engaging in addictive behavior so that we can take the first steps toward overcoming it. [5:09]
• Why is “awareness of self” the single most important key to overcoming addiction? [10:07]
• Tommy shares the initial start of his recovery. [15:10]
• He reflects on having to leave behind the identity he had built up to his decision to change his life. [21:21]
• Tommy explains how important support is on your journey to recovery. [31:29]
• The 4 Aggravations that prevent us from living a full life: [34:18]

1. Negative thinking
2. Self-doubt
3. Procrastination
4. Resentment

• Learn what the next steps are after achieving self-awareness [37:43]
• Tommy’s advice for you - All human beings are born to excel. [42:01]

Relevant Links:

Tommy’s book: https://www.amazon.com/RECOVERY-2-0-Beyond-Addiction-Upgrade/dp/1401944485/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529622067&sr=8-1&keywords=tommy+rosen

Tommy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommyrosen/

Tommy’s Website: https://r20.com/