For episode 244 Valerie Mason-John makes their first appearance on the Metta Hour to speak about their new book, “First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors”.

Valerie is a founding facilitator of Compassionate Inquiry and the author of eleven books, including the award-winning book, “Eight Step Recovery.” They are a co-founder of the training program, Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery, and work as a public speaker in the field of Mindfulness for Addiction and Trauma.

In this conversation, Valerie and Sharon discuss:

How lovingkindness saved Valerie’s life
How Valerie became the “Bully Doctor”
Valerie’s journey in recovery
The importance of community in recovery
Recovery Cafe
Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry
Thoughts are not facts
First-Aid Kit for the Mind
The breath is medicine
What is still true? What can we rely on?
Dharma: that which we can rely on
Thich Naht Hanh’s influence on Valerie
How to maintain mindfulness
The role of Storytelling in Valerie’s work
How story compounds addiction
Playwriting and poetry as social justice

Valerie closes the conversation with a guided meditation LOVE from their new book, First Aid Kit for the Mind. Learn more about Valarie’s work on their website right here.

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Ep. 244 – Valerie Mason-John