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Tackling Addiction With Jack Canfield

By May 1, 2016January 26th, 2024No Comments

“There’s always opportunity in the midst of everything, but most people are so focused on blaming someone else for why it’s not working they don’t see the opportunity.”

Jack Canfield


Who am I to disagree with a guy who has sold 500 million books?

That is not hyperbole.

Not only has Jack Canfield — the personal growth & self-improvement author behind The Success Principles* and the wildly popular Chicken Soup For The Soul* series — actually sold that many copies of his many books, a full 47 of them have graced the New York Times bestseller list. In fact, Jack holds a Guinness World Record for having 7 books on the NYT list at the same time.

I don’t know how that’s even possible. I do know he’s recently pulled focus on alcoholism, tackling addiction in his most recent offering, The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home*.

I almost backed out of doing this interview. You may think I’m a New Age California hippie, but I’m actually a relatively skeptical guy. I’m not easily romanced by the latest in self-help. I can be stubborn and my perspective on long-held beliefs can be difficult to shake.

I’m also someone with extremely strong, experience-based opinions about sobriety — not only what’s required to achieve it,  but more importantly what’s essential to properly maintain it.

To be frank, part of me feels it’s somewhat ostentatious for Jack — not himself a recovering alcoholic — to publish a book that purports to resolve alcoholism by virtue of a 30-day program. In my experience, sobriety just doesn’t work that way. Moreover, I’m far from convinced that you can successfully combat addiction from the privacy of your own home. Let me rephrase — I couldn’t do that. Thus my conscience struggles to ratify or validate an author who supports such a methodology.

I’m a 12-step guy through and through – I can say without reservation or exaggeration that it saved my life. My participation and service in recovery is and remains my #1 priority. But as they say in the rooms, contempt prior to investigation keeps a man in everlasting ignorance. So in good faith, I read Jack’s new book with an open mind. I can’t say I agree with everything it proposes. But I can say it does contain more than a few valuable insights — more than enough to merit a spirited exchange with it’s acclaimed author.

Moreover, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tackle this conversation. It’s not everyday you get invited up to Santa Barbara to visit the home of a man revered for a life devoted to serving the personal growth of others.

So needless to say, here we are. I haven’t listened to any other interviews with Jack, but I think its fair to say – and by Jack’s own admission — this conversation is not your normal fare.

I’m not saying it was contentious (it wasn’t at all). Jack was a great sport and I think my dubiousness made for a fun and engaging meeting of the minds.

Specific topics explored include:

  • the ugly truths behind “Sobriety, Inc.”
  • the driving force behind Chicken Soup for the Soul
  • Jack’s “Rule of Five” & 30-Day practice period
  • Jack’s daily routine
  • Jack’s family history with alcoholism 
  • healing the core essence
  • tapping therapy
  • isolation and relationship support
  • treating addiction with mind-altering drugs
  • tools/resources available after the 30-Day Sobriety Solution
  • letting go of unwanted emotion using The Sedona Method
  • limiting beliefs & fear inhibitors
  • the deleterious implications of American consumerism

I’m really glad I went through with this one. I sincerely hope you enjoy the exchange.

Peace + Plants,

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SHOW NOTES

Connect With Jack: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Jack’s newly released book is available now: The 30-Day Sobriety Solution: How to Cut Back or Quit Drinking in the Privacy of Your Own Home*

Background, Context & Reference:

Notable Books Discussed in today’s podcast:

Notable People Discussed in today’s podcast:

Related Podcasts You Might Enjoy:

Thanks to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production and interstitial music (plus a new tweak on the theme!); Chris Swan for production assistance; Shawn Patterson for his graphic wizardry; and Ana Leimma for the original theme music.

Last week we offered 10 newsletter subscribers a chance to win a $50 gift box of baked goods from KarmaBaker.com. Here is a list of the lucky winners. We will contact you by e-mail this week:

  • Jenny Wampler
  • Bryan Peterson
  • Kyoko Kobayashi
  • Katie Recknagel
  • Bob Lea
  • Martha Barrett
  • Mark Sonnenberg
  • Lance Wordelmann
  • Terri Quirk
  • Aisha Davila

Even if you weren’t one of the lucky winners you can still try some delicious vegan and gluten-free desserts. Visit KarmaBaker.com and type in the coupon code “ROLL” at checkout for $10 off your first purchase ($25 minimum order) of shippable baked goods through 12.31.16.

This week we are excited to continue the theme of giving: we are giving away 10 signed copies my friend Mishka Shubaly’s new book entitled I Swear I’ll Make It Up To You – A Life On The Low Road*

Simply follow these TWO simple steps to be automatically entered in the Giveaway:

On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 8th), I will choose 10 winners at random from the Vlog 003 comments section. Winners will be notified by replying to said comments and announced on next week’s podcast.

*Disclosure:Books and products denoted with an asterisk are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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