TR Weekly Boost: Issue 08

Time for your weekly boost from Transparent Recovery!

Author

Dustin Anderson
June 03, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

📝 In Today’s Edition

This boost-filled edition will focus on authentic connection! Transparent Recovery will share tools and thoughts on the following topics:

  • Identifying Emotions and The Feelings Wheel

  • Using “I” Statements to Communicate my Emotions

  • A powerful song, “Come into the Light”

  • What does porn do to your soul?

  • and more

Dates to be aware of in the month of June:

📚️ Emotions: How to Identify and Communicate them

The Feelings Wheel

One of the most powerful tools for identifying and expressing emotions is The Feelings Wheel. This vibrant, circular guide begins with seven core emotions at its center—happy, surprised, bad, fearful, angry, disgusted, and sad. As you move outward through the expanding rings, your emotional vocabulary grows, offering more nuanced words to articulate what you're feeling. With this tool, you can better understand and communicate your emotions in a way that is both meaningful and impactful.

IFAB Statements: How to communicate these new emotions?

An IFAB (pronounced “eye-fab”) statement is a formula to help you create “I” statements. It stands for I Feel_____ About_____ Because_____. “I” statements allow the speaker to express their emotions or beliefs without assigning blame to the listener. For example, “I feel abandoned and worried about you coming home late because that used to mean you were with an affair partner.” This fosters clearer, more constructive communication.

I Feel

Use the feelings wheel to identify two or three words that best describe how you are feeling. You can practice using some new feeling words to express your emotions more clearly.

About

Describe the situation or circumstance that is causing you to feel that way. Be sure to only include the objective facts of the situation, not your interpretation of it.

Because

Share why this situation makes you feel that way. Is there a similar experience in your past that leads you to feeling the way you do?

IFAB Statements WorksheetUse this simple worksheet to write down some "I" statements you can share to help improve communication in your relationships.150.93 KB • PDF File

🗓️ Weekly Virtual Support Groups

Join now for FREE! Virtual support groups for men committed to recovery and becoming the husbands, fathers, and leaders God created us to be! Support Groups meet Monday nights for one hour.

  • Mondays: 7:00pm or 8:30pm CST

  • Join a Group: Register NOW!

What does porn do to our souls?

WAR NING: This analogy is graphic yet powerful and memorable.

Take two minutes to listen to Josh explain how a common practice in a certain culture relates to how porn effects our souls. You will never forget it!

🎵 Song Spotlight

Come Into The Light by Taya

An Anthem for Men in Recovery!

The song opens with this POWERFUL invitation to come into the light of Jesus Christ:

“Are you wounded from all the pain of hidden sin and secret shame? Are you burdened and so afraid? Come into the light!” 

Can you relate??? Of course! Our hidden sin has cost us greatly, but God is still by our side. What has your hidden sin cost you?

“Have you started to believe the lie that it’s safer for you to hide?” 

This song is an invitation to come into the light of Christ and be set free!!

“If you’re ready for your freedom come into the light. If you’re ready for your healing come into the light. If you’re ready for redemption come into the light.”

What is keeping you from coming into the light of Christ? Or how has coming into the light changed your life? Reply to this email and let me know. I’d love to hear from you!

🔥 In Case You Missed It…

  • Transparent Recovery is now an official 501(c)(3) organization! Which means any donations made will be tax deductible. Also, it provides tax relief to help us accomplish our mission of helping more men and their families!

  • Connect with us on Facebook. Like our page and help us get the word out!

  • We need YOUR help, give us feedback! We just created our donation page. Would you take just a few minutes to look it over and share your thoughts? I want it to by clear and compelling, but not pushy. Thank you in advance!

Transparency Leads to Freedom

True freedom begins with transparency—the willingness to bring struggles into the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:6-21) and to confess openly with trusted believers (James 5:16). It is only when we take responsibility for our actions that we can fully experience God's mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

“Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!”
—Ephesians 5:13-16

Recovery is the process of allowing Christ’s light to shine into our darkest places and redeem us daily. Redemption means freedom from the power and penalty of sin, yet we may still face natural consequences from our past actions. But even through life’s difficulties, God works to shape lasting character and hope within us (Romans 5:3-5).

Are you carrying burdens in secrecy, afraid of exposure? At Transparent Recovery, you don’t have to face them alone. We provide a safe space where you can step into the light of Christ and find true healing from compulsive sexual behavior. Join one of our FREE virtual support groups now.

Till next time,

TR Weekly Boost