The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

  • Being strict with sobriety but not with other addictive behaviour

    Something that has been on my mind for a while now is the question why it seems to be no bigger issue for me to deal with other habit loops and/or addictive behavior in a moderate and sensible way while with alcohol I can’t. I won’t get into too much detail for toxic habits and/or… Read more

  • The advantages of being a nerd – tapping into the power of journaling TTRPG*

    Yes, I admit it, I am a nerd. Have always been, may always be. I won’t discuss the up- and downsides of being a nerd here, that is a different issue. But one advantageous aspect is knowing about the power of RPG (role playing games). Why? Well, gaming, and particularly role playing (not in the… Read more

  • Toxic Self optimization – why it contributes to bad self esteem

    It seems I am coming back to a lot of aspects I touched upon before. I am sorry if that feels erratic, but I feel the need to share my reflection on toxic self optimization once again. All the good advice and lifestyle books come with very good ideas, but they come with a couple… Read more

  • Impatience, impulse control and premature decisions

    Ever since leaving the Pink Cloud, one thing has become a very imminent issue on my recovery journey, and that concerns the question of decision making in relation to my self efficacy and self esteem. While it is in a way a good thing to have a certain motivation and willpower to complete tasks, preferably… Read more

  • Music and the Savage Drooling Beast – Or so…

    Here goes the drooling dog again. Let’s speak a little bit about conditioning ourselves and using the power of reframing music for the good cause. To be less cryptic: I talked about the effect of music on my emotional state. That is nothing new and, in itself, there is nothing to add to. But what… Read more

  • Should we cry more? Cont‘d

    I finally mustered the courage to do it. So: Until next time, take one step at a time and don’t lose the faith in yourself. Read more

  • Meatless March – when good intentions get (probably) too much… Evaluating cognitive distortion

    What is cognitive distortion, to clarify things unknown first? To quote Wikipedia: “A cognitive distortion is a thought that causes a person to perceive reality inaccurately due to being exaggerated or irrational. Cognitive distortions are involved in the onset or perpetuation of psychopathological states, such as depression and anxiety.” Depression? – Check, Anxiety? – Check. Ok. So, what is this post about?… Read more

  • End of Feb reflection – When is a good intention a bad intention?

    February has ended, and the question is: how did I fate with a good intention over a month’s span? It’s interesting how a good intention that feels very sensible and motivating can become a hassle, because you think you are still motivated to fulfill the good intention but in the end, the whole idea starts… Read more

  • Podcast #1

    For those of you interested: Click on the image and it will lead you to my first Podcast episode, but only in German. Read more

  • How to tap into emotionally loaded memories – in a nutshell.

    Of course, this list is not exhaustive, because I guess there are a lot more techniques that I could use. And since I am not coaching, but only sharing my experience here, I will describe five short techniques that help me tap into the memories and emotional states I want to unlock in order to… Read more