The Clear Horizon

From oblivion of alcoholism into the light of sobriety

  • 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

  • The feelgood implications of Nostalgia and Drooling

    There might be a feeling arising that there is some dissonance in the picture or the imagination, that a drooling dog and a man indulging in old memories may have to do something with improving my mental health, but even though the poles may be very far apart, they have something in common. They bridge… Read more