Pain is the physical or psychological suffering that reduces a person’s quality of life. The opposite of suffering is happiness. If human beings are to live full, happy, productive lives, then pain must be addressed in all its origins, causes, significance, management, and remedies.

“Meaning is possible even in spite of suffering—provided that the suffering is unavoidable. If it were avoidable, however, the meaningful thing to do would be to remove its cause.” - Viktor Frankl

In 2001, pain was newly classified as the “fifth vital sign” by the Joint Commission, the country’s leading accrediting body for hospitals that helps health-care systems improve performance. The four other vital signs—body temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and pulse rate—continue to be definitively measured in order to know the state of a person’s essential body functions.

Opioids kill more than forty thousand Americans each year. They annually take the lives of more people than cars or guns.

“For what matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into triumph, to turn one’s predicament into a human achievement. When we are no longer able to change a situation…we are challenged to change ourselves.” - Viktor Frankl

Human connection can be one of the most powerful antidotes to human suffering and pain.

To be honest, I’m not exactly sure how I got to where I am today. It involved a lot of putting one foot in front of the other. Trying new things with confidence that I’d succeed. Looking to always be better than the day before.

“It’s a mixture of God and working really fucking hard. Connecting with like-minded people. Staying positive when every sign says otherwise.”

I try my best to greet everyone I meet with a positive vibe. I take the time to hear people’s issues and try to help them through their problems. I want to brighten people’s days, and I seem to do pretty well at it.

None of these people know shit…

One of the hardest things in the world is going through life with a secret.

The most important concept anyone will ever need to grasp in life is the notion to not give up, not ever.

You will not give up in the face of adversity. You will look every obstacle, every hurdle, every demon in its face. You will lower your shoulders and drive through that motherfucker without hesitation or regret.

You will not give up. You will get through this. Just keep moving forward.

Take a breath. You will get through this.

This is the way of addiction. Everyone becomes a casualty.

“The pain won’t last forever. Just hang in there. Stick it out and you will come out the other side. You can do this.”

It was time for me to accept what my life had become, to take responsibility for my actions and stop blaming everyone else. The only way I was going to get clean was to realize that I was the only one who could truly fix me.

The process of getting sober was a process of getting to know oneself again.

But one thing I could never get back was the time I’d let slip away while I was getting high.

“Take it slow. Nothing is going to happen overnight.”

“If you just keep doing the right thing, good things will happen to you. That’s just the way the world works.”

Exercise helped ease my depression and anxiety, which I found to be one of the most important aspects of my recovery.

During my rides, my favorite soundtrack was by an artist named Mac Miller. His music was my escape. It was all about good vibes, rising out of shitty situations, putting on a smile, and persevering.

My mom was right when she’d said that with hard work, patience, and doing the right thing day after day, good things would eventually come my way.

No matter how long a person was sober, addiction was never truly beaten.

“Do what works for you.”

Any time I would get an urge to do something unworthy, I would ask myself, “Would your family, friends, or God want you to do this? With all that you’ve accomplished, all you’ve beaten, is this worthy of the man you have become?” This helped keep me solid and focused on my sobriety.

“Hang around the barbershop long enough, and you’re gonna get a haircut.”

Recovering drug addicts should not drink alcohol. First, alcohol affects judgment. Second, it can lead to bad decisions. Third, it can potentially act as a replacement for drugs.

First, alcohol affects judgment. Second, it can lead to bad decisions. Third, it can potentially act as a replacement for drugs.

Sometimes the best words are thought of on the spot and are more organic in nature.

I knew the best way I could help her was to do well in my life and to eliminate the worry she’d had about me for so long.

Always stay busy. But the most important part was to stay busy with the right things….healthy, productive pursuits that furthered one’s growth.

I realized that anyone could have anything they wanted in this world. They just had to believe and take the necessary steps toward a better life.

We as humans are only as strong as the people around us.

One of the most important tips I began sharing with up-and-coming influencer managers was the concept of brevity. Influencer-creators were so busy that they couldn’t be weighed down by lengthy chats or long memos. Anyone working with them needed to get to the point, and quickly.

As long as I kept doing right by others, good would continue to come my way.

Get in the habit of trusting yourself. You’re smarter and wiser than you know. Believe that.

When is the best time to plant an oak tree? Five years ago.

Get off your ass and start moving. Whether it’s a vlog channel, a book, a painting, or learning a new craft—just get it started. It may suck at first. No one may watch it or read it or listen to it. But eventually you’ll look back at a catalog of work, a catalog of growth, and that will be your legacy. Don’t waste time thinking about “if and when.” Just get off the couch and go.

Work hard, play hard.

The pace at which today’s world demands you move can sometimes push you into a cycle of work that isn’t balanced with an outlet for stress. Find a way to let go and unplug. Force yourself to take time for you. There is just as much risk in being overworked as there is in being lazy. Find your outlet.

Be transparent. Always.

The management team at Lovesac led with transparency and honesty. They overshared in a good way. When sales were down, the entire company worked harder to make it up and hit goals. When revenue was up, bonuses came in and the company celebrated. No matter what, that feeling of being “in the know” was an extremely powerful culture play. Furthermore, I’d always believed in honesty anyway, so it resonated with me.

The most valuable thing I had in my life, and the most valuable takeaway from my time with Lovesac, would always be my relationships. My “Rolodex,” as he called it.

Nothing will pay off more than building strategic and sincere long-lasting relationships. And that means being a good friend, a good listener, and just being good to people.

“It was her decision, and I don’t judge her for it. More importantly, if anyone can look beyond someone’s past and appreciate them for who they are now—it’s me.”

Many things that feel good in the moment can have damaging effects far beyond the moment.

Family is so important and you should never take it for granted.

Free yourself from harmful evils because the clarity and motivation you will experience from getting clean and sober will be the bedrock for your real route to success.

Sweat. The natural release of “feel-good chemicals” in your brain that comes from exercise will help you fight depression or anxiety.

Lean on your people. Talk to friends, family, or therapists…whoever you can. The feeling I get when I leave my therapist’s office is second to none. It feels like someone has lifted a fucking rock off my back.

Believe in yourself. It might sound corny, but it’s everything. Even with a catalog of quality work, I still question myself at times. But I’m getting better. Whatever you choose to do, believe in your ability to do good. Fuck that…believe in your ability to be the best ever.

Fake it ’til you make it. Don’t just try new things, be new things.

Not everyone is going to be your fan, and that’s okay. People are more vocal than ever before about things they don’t like. Take what constructive criticism you can but leave the hate. Let people’s negative thoughts be more ammo for you to succeed.

Not everything deserves a reaction. This was something I should have enacted in my life a lot earlier. If someone hates you, instead of asking why and trying to fix it, just keep on moving. You’ll spend so much time trying to fix other people that you’ll lose track of what you need to do in order to make yourself the best possible version of you that you can be.

More than anything else, take comfort in knowing who you are. People will have misconceptions about you. As long as you are strongly rooted in who you truly are, you’ll never get too tied up in what others think of you.

Your journey is your own, and it makes you who you are. The person I am today, while unrecognizable in comparison to the person I once was, is rooted in the lessons I have learned through my struggles. Your hard days teach you more than your easy days. Don’t forget that. I would not be the man I am today without my struggles and painful journey through addiction. And I’m proud of that man.

Not only can you dig your way out of whatever rut you’re in, you can flourish in your life afterward.

You can escape addiction or mental illness or whatever you’re facing and get to the highest levels in this world and within yourself. If you have the power to keep fighting when so many others give up, then you have the power to do anything you want in life.

Be good to other people. Take a second to make someone’s day. Smile. Talk to the lonely. Help the elderly. Do something to make someone else feel good. Anything.

The only thing that truly feels good is the good that I can help create in someone else.

The sad truth is that there is no way to force an addict to change their ways. You can aid them, assist them in their journey once they make the choice to change, but you can never make that decision for them. The change needs to come from within.

If you were able to get here, you can get wherever you need to go next.

Everyone struggles. No matter how our friends, family, and the people we see every day appear on the outside, everyone faces difficult challenges. Cheating spouses, financial burdens, or family members fighting sickness or disease plague the lives of those around us.

We’re all just trying to do whatever we can to make it through the day or the week or the year, and to be happy.

Addicts are people too.

There is no “path” set out for our life. We create our destiny as we go. And no matter how far away you are from where you feel you should be, it is never, ever too late to change.

Shared from Twos ✌️

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