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Host Tara McCausland speaks with Pathway to Recovery co-host Jonathan L. Jonathan starts by sharing his adolescent internet porn exposure and how curiosity eventually led to pornography addiction. He shares how his behavior intensified after his mother died when he was 14, and produced shame, compartmentalization, lying, and “white-knuckle” sobriety. After marriage, he disclosed to his wife, relapsed, hid again, and later experienced suicidal ideation. This was followed by Divine help that came after a heartfelt prayer. He was soon after introduced to SAL 12-step and has been working recovery since 2021. Tara and Jonathan define top lines, bottom lines, and boundaries, and discuss creative top-line practices to build trust, raise bottom lines (e.g., removing social media), and emphasize incremental progress, accountability, celebrating wins, and choosing recovery over addiction.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:14 Podcast Milestones and Listener Shoutout
02:39
03:06 Early Exposure and Addiction Roots
04:41 Loss, Grief, and a Double Life
05:44 Mission, Marriage, and First Disclosure
08:50 Suicidal Ideation and Turning Point
10:35 Recovery Begins - Participating in SAL 12-Step and Therapy
13:35 Compassion for Younger Self
18:27 Defining Top Lines, Bottom Lines, Boundaries
21:54
22:44 Turning Alone Time into Trust Building Moments
24:05 Celebrating Progress
25:13
26:35 Sponsor Vision Exercise
27:06 Positive Recovery Mindset - Living by Top Lines
30:02 Weeds vs Flowers Reframe
30:36 Bottom Lines as Guardrails
31:17 Raising Bottom Lines
34:33 Addressing Overwhelm and Striving for 1% Better
37:44 Celebrate Wins Together
40:45 Intentional Recovery Work
42:22 Discipline Over Regret
43:38 Advice for New and the Tired

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