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Your Recovery Could Use a Fresh Set of Eyes
Time for your weekly boost from Transparent Recovery, Issue 10!
Dustin Anderson
July 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes
A LETTER FROM DUSTINThis morning something happened that I have to share!I was taking notes on a webinar when my daughter Aubree walked in. She saw me taking screenshots of the important stuff and here eyes got wide. “Dad, Can I help?" she blurted out. She was fascinated when I taught her how to capture a screenshot and paste it into my notes. To me this is a tedious task, but to her it was exciting. While watching her delight, I was struck by the great joy she found in such a simple task. And it hit me: when did the tedious routines meant to restore me start to drain me? The foundational tools for recovery that helped me dig out of the pit I was in—things like prayer, journaling, checking in with a friend, reading Scripture—slowly became joyless chores. Just another box to check on a never-ending to-do list. The problem: a joyless recovery becomes a burden and is not sustainable. What if we could look at our recovery with "Aubree's Eyes"? Recovery is not a burden. Recovery is an opportunity! An opportunity to connect with God, grow our faith, and build a new life one small, simple action at a time. It’s time to rediscover the wonder in the work? Before you begin pulling out your recovery tools this week, pause and ask God: “Show me how to see this with fresh eyes. Show me the wonder in this again.” Maybe that means finding a new place to pray. Maybe it’s reading a familiar passage of Scripture as if you’ve never seen it before. Or maybe it’s just approaching your journal with the simple curiosity of a child. Healing is hard work and it is always worthwhile! Rooting for you, Dustin |  |
📝 In Today’s Edition
3 Barriers to Successful Recovery
Learning to Reach Out to your Community
Self-deception: the lies to be on guard against
and more.
What percent of reported porn users say they don’t have anyone in their life helping them to avoid pornography?
— Scroll to the bottom for the answer
⛰️ 3 COMMON BARRIERS TO A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY
1. Lack of Community
Recovery thrives on connection. When you lack a solid support system you can become more and more isolated from other people. But an authentic community offers real a place of encouragement, vulnerability, and accountability needed to keep you moving forward.
2. Lack of Initiative
Recovery is an active process that demands engagement. Without initiative—whether due to fear, self-doubt, or simply being stuck—it's hard to make progress. But by celebrating small wins and consistently making time to connect with others, you can begin to make positive progress.
3. Lack of Honesty
Being honest about our challenges can help keep us from falling into denial or rationalizations that block progress. This lack of transparency will allow unresolved core issues to keep healing at bay. Learn to be honest with yourself and with your community. True healing always begins with honesty.
❔ Where are you lacking in your recovery?
🎵 What I Listen to for Encouragement
“No you never let me down”: The picture of the God of the universe pursuing each one of us relentlessly reveals how great His love is for us! There is nothing you have done, can do, or will do that can stop God from loving and pursuing you. There is nothing anyone else can do to you that will stop Him either.
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified because of them. The Lord your God will go with you. He will never leave you. He’ll never desert you.
“You’ve never let me walk alone Not even once And You won’t start now”
Where else can you find a friend like this? Think about it. Jesus never walks away from you, not even while you are stuck in sexual addiction! And He won’t start now.
He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.
“I’ll never see a breakthrough come that isn’t right on time”
Why does the psalmist tell us to wait patiently? I think one reason is because God’s timing is always perfect. We can trust in God’s timing even when we don’t understand it. It’s in the waiting we learn to trust and fully depend upon God for our daily bread.
Will you depend on Jesus today?
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
OUR NEW BRANDING
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🙋 Learning to Reach Out to Your Community
 It Takes a Village! | 👨⚖️ The Truth about accountability partners: Why would we expect another man to meet all of our accountability needs? I tell men all the time - you do not need an accountability partner, you need a tribe. 📱 Habits, Habits, Habits: Are you struggling to reach out when you need help? Then build a new habit. Start to make daily phone calls and text messages to safe people in your life whether you need help or not. The habit of staying connected will help reaching out to come more naturally for you. |
Still looking for your community - your tribe? CLICK HERE to learn more about how we can help you with that!
🤥 Self-deception: Common Lies We Tell Ourselves
Recently during a support group, the topic of self-deception came up, so I made a list of some common lies that we tell ourselves to enable our addictions. Here is my list of FOUR common lies:
It’s not hurting anyone because it’s just me involved.
I might as well give in to acting out because I feel hopeless.
I can do it on my own. I do not need anyone else to help.
I cannot cope of live without it.
I would love to hear from you! Reply to this email and let me know what other lies you have believed. Acceptance and awareness are the first steps to healing and freedom.
TRIVIA QUESTION ANSWER (from above)
What percent of reported porn users say they don’t have anyone in their life helping them to avoid pornography?
ANSWER: 84% of reported porn users say they do NOT have anyone helping them avoid pornography.
NEED HELP?
Join a FREE Virtual Support Group!
Do you have anyone in your life helping you to avoid porn? Transparent Recovery offers free virtual support groups for men struggling with porn addiction.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Till next time,
Dustin