The Most Important Thing I’ve Ever Done
New Life Detoxification
When I began sauna time in the [New Life] Detoxification Program, my goal was to rid myself of any alcohol residuals and environmental toxins. I also wanted to get rid of any byproducts of all the acetaminophen and ibuprofen I had been living on for my chronic shoulder, neck, hip, back and hand pain. I also wanted any other illegal or illicit drugs I had dabbled in along with the prescribed narcotics over the decades for various injuries and surgeries I’ve experienced out of my body. From what I can tell, that goal was accomplished.
What I wasn’t expecting to be improved was my sense of smell, eyesight, numbness of my hands, chronic nagging hip pain, neck stiffness, left shoulder, sleep, sugar cravings, and my skin. All of these have been improved since the detoxification. I’m also having a lot more dreams, good dreams.
The biggest win I feel I have received is getting my brain function back. My mental growth, the cleansing of my thoughts, has improved. My brain feels more alive and crisp, my ability to recall words is much better and I am retaining more of what I am reading. I am in better control of my “angel,” reflecting on my participation in the downward spiral my life had become. What choices I made that contributed to my issue. I have also created a morning routine to take care of my body again like I used to. I feel like I am worth it now, valuing myself and taking care of my injuries again. I can get off the floor easier, and after I work out, I feel like I’m getting myself back to normal. Spending time in the sauna also allowed me to spend a lot of time to think; therefore, I set for myself daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals again.
I’ve experienced many different types of abuse and trauma. The sauna time allowed me the time to reflect on these things, not dwell on them, and to remember happy times. I went from speaking with negative and angry emotions of my most recent past to speaking about them with a more level tone. I was able to sort out how I feel about the events of the past three years and about today and my future. I know sauna time has helped me achieve more self-awareness and clarity while I enter the next phase of the Narconon program.
I am excited to experience objectives and feel ready with a stronger body and well-being. I am very blessed thus far. My friends and family can hear the improvements in my voice and the words I use. I am more positive and not a victim; I am a warrior.
Objectives
I came into this part of Narconon still blaming my life’s circumstances on why I was even here in the first place. Currently I have had this in focus, and objectives have forced me to be in the present time over the past few weeks to accept what parts of my journey are mine and how I was controlled by what I thought was the right thing to do. Really, many of the things, events, and situations I have experienced are based on truths that are not reality. My desire to feel loved. When IU felt neglected, I took control rather than communicate or compromise on issues that could have been resolved, perhaps, amicably. I no longer choose to be part of chaos because it was killing me. Objectives kept me here in 2025 realizing I can go through this and come out stronger, wiser, and ultimately healthier. I realized I can be a positive version of myself, and through that, I will create positive relationships with my children, spouse, friends and family.
Personal Values
Humility – writing down events, actions and verbalizing so many different types of destructive and negative overts. Bringing to light what I have done throughout my life and the last six years has given me an outlet and relief. Repeating patterns of out-ethics, making repetitive choices that I have control over affecting not only myself but more importantly, people in my life I care about. There are things that I have experienced that ultimately written down sober or not laid a pathway of destroying myself and what accomplishments and achievements I have created with the person I am capable of being. There is a higher power that sees my worth. Most events that have hurt others have been while drinking, using cocaine and other drugs. The lies told, which destroyed my trustworthiness with my spouse, reveal the part that I have played in the demise of my marriage. I am humbled by this fact in doing this part of the Narconon program. Alcohol, the easiest vice to return to, I see so many reasons why I cannot drink or use drugs again. No good comes from it, nothing at all. I am worthy of God and want to give it to others.
Changing Conditions in Life
My wins/successes from studying were possible because this program has opened my eyes and mind to what my choices have done to my survival. In discovering my first dynamic, just me, I now identify as a source of energy and light. I wear hats, but those different hats are not actually me, they are things I’ve used my energy to be in this world, good things. Seeing my energy, out-ethics, and lack of integrity is real to me. I face choices, really anything placed in and around my life, and I know I have control to experience things. More importantly, I will and can be a cause that affords others to experience life as easily as one can. Assessing the conditions I was in, what I’ve already been doing, and what I will need to do as I come up out of the lower to normal. I will continue upward to affluence, ascending the tone scale; my energy is life.
Narconon Program Completion
The most important thing I have ever done thus far in my 56 years of life is Narconon. The sauna cleared my mind and body of the alcohol and other drugs. It aided the awakening of my mind, and so I could acknowledge and accept the fact that it was me, my choices, my actions, my excuses, and how I reacted to outside events. I’ve experienced abuse and trauma; who hasn't? Life is messy. What sauna did for me was self-awareness, and that was scary. I was changing the way to reflect on my life to reduce the anger and choosing to remember the good things I’d done in my life.
Then there were objectives; this phase helped me realize I need to be present. I had to leave the crutch of my life’s circumstances in the past. It’s humbling to accept a great deal of what happened was how I would respond to these experiences.
Ups and downs taught me about identifying the type of people I need to surround myself with. I am fortunate that the vast majority of my circle of influence are social personalities. Going back to my life, I am surrounded with good and caring people. For me, working on myself and writing down my past transgressions was a practice of humility. I also feel relief. To actually see what I had done to others and myself and to release shame and guilt was cathartic. Very liberating. It is impossible to truly move forward when one ruminates on the past. However, the past holds moments and people we truly loved, and remembering those things is worthwhile. We can simultaneously leave the ugly past behind and still honor the beautiful parts too.
“I am no longer interested in perpetuating the hurt that has happened to me. I will live this lifetime God has entrusted to me with integrity and gratitude.”
I have gained clarity going through the Narconon Program to love myself, to forgive myself on the inside, and to see myself as others see me. I like myself on the inside now. When I close my eyes I see an energy that can help my children and so many others experience life positively. Alcohol and drugs dim that light and always have. When I was at my darkest was when I was using; I see that now. I am eternally grateful for Narconon. I am no longer interested in perpetuating the hurt that has happened to me. I will live this lifetime God has entrusted to me with integrity and gratitude. Going forward into this next season smiling and being able to handle anything.
S.W., Narconon Suncoast Graduate
