Today my guest is Steven Washington, author of Recovering You: Soul Care and Mindful Movement for Overcoming Addiction. If you have ever met someone who is so grounded, so authentic, and warm, then you will understand how I felt speaking with Steven. What a sparkling gift he is! See, this is why I love having a podcast. I get to meet amazing people and introduce you to them, and we are all better for it. We talk about his story of childhood challenges that shaped his life, alcoholism while performing at the highest levels, and the moment of clarity that altered the trajectory of his life.   Before we jump in, I wanted to share an interesting topic that came up in the 12 Step workshop I’m facilitating. The question was, how do I know if I’m doing God’s will or if I’m in self-will? Such an important question and one I think a lot of us visit from time to time. I did a short video about it on Tiktok but thought it was worth mentioning here too.   We do need to take action, and we do so based on goals and responsibilities. I think for me what can be confusing is when I experience some sort of pain and frustration.  This is what can be confusing for me. If pain and frustration are involved, does that mean I am not in God’s will? Am I trying to force something that isn’t meant to be? Or is it part of the natural process?   While there are no clear-cut answers, I have found a barometer that has helped a lot, and it’s this question: Do my actions or decisions ultimately bring me peace?    For example, I had been struggling with a friendship that no longer felt right for a variety of reasons. After much reflection and discussion with trusted advisors, I decided to let that friend go. Was it painful? Yes. Did the decision ultimately bring me peace? Absolutely. While I don’t wish anyone harm, I acknowledge that changes in both parties resulted in the loss of commonality, and that’s okay. Nobody has to be made wrong. It has been a blessing to release with love and make room for new opportunities. So that’s how I decide if I’m in God’s will or not, and if we take a step back, I’ll say that the word “God” can be whatever makes sense to you, and it’s a valuable exercise to revisit that concept as well. I hope that helps! And I would love to hear your thoughts on Tiktok, Facebook, or Instagram.   So without further ado, please enjoy the episode with Steven!   Connect with Steven! Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/stevenwashingtonexperience/ Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/STEVENWASHINGTONEXPERIENCE/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELKG49gXvN7E-GY271iSHQ Website: www.stevenwashingtonexperience.com    Watch on YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNuRolkOZ7X8fCEFCDYd5tg   Subscribe So You Don’t Miss New Episodes!   Listen On:   https://apple.co/30g6ALF   https://odaatchat.libsyn.com/spotify   https://bit.ly/3n0taNQ     Watch Full Episodes!   https://bit.ly/2UpR5Lo