Michael Dinneen - The Gift of Fulfillment: Living the Principles of Healthy Recovery

In the area of addiction recovery and the important intersection of that recovery in relation to Christian principles, Michael Dinneens new book is required reading.

Philip F. Anschutz, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur

The Gift of Fulfillment is based on the notion that a human being is born with a hole within, which leads to feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, and sadness. Michael Dinneens work with people who find themselves hurting and dissatisfied is intensely practical and makes it possible to gain a sense of direction, serenity, and purpose. Michael has a passion and commitment to bridge the world of recovery with the Christian world without excluding other points of view. The Gift of Fulfillment deserves your attention.

Bob Buford, Founder, Leadership Network, Author of Halftime and Finishing Well

As one committed to the human journey with God, I am pleased to endorse Michael Dinneens effort to bring practical clarity to the miracle of recovery, when God becomes the Center of the human heart. He captures well the call to become the change you wish to see in others.

Richard C. Hanifen, Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Colorado Springs

Central Recovery Press (CRP) is committed to publishing exceptional materials addressing addiction treatment, recovery, and behavioral healthcare topics, including original and quality books, audio/visual communications, and web-based new media. Through a diverse selection of titles, we seek to contribute a broad range of unique resources for professionals, recovering individuals and their families, and the general public.

For more information, visit www.centralrecoverypress.com.

2013 by Michael Dinneen

All rights reserved. Published 2013.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Publisher: Central Recovery Press

3321 N. Buffalo Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89129

18 17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5

ISBN: 978-1-937612-32-0 (e-book)

Photo of Michael Dinneen by Don Weule. Used with permission.

Publishers Note: Our books represent the experiences and opinions of their authors only. Every effort has been made to ensure that events, institutions, and statistics presented in our books as facts are accurate and up-to-date.

To protect their privacy, the names of some of the people and institutions in this book have been changed.

Cover and Interior Design by Deb Tremper, Six Penny Graphics.

To Mom and Dad,

and Uncle Tom.

Thank you for everything.

Table of Contents

First and most importantly I want to thank my God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) for everything. I thank my beautiful wife Jill and my amazing children, Cadin and Samantha, for loving me through the process of writing my first book. I thank my sister Jennifer for guiding me to my first twelve-step meeting more than twenty-one years ago. I have gratitude for all the participants in the thousands of recovery meetings that Ive had the privilege to attend. Thanks to Helen OReilly, Eliza Tutellier, and all the CRP staff for their guidance. Thanks to Walden Media and Todd Neff for helping me edit and organize my proposal. I have deep gratitude to Phil Anschutz for his vision and funding of CeDAR as well as all his help with this project. Thanks to all the CeDAR staff who have been so supportive.

Thanks to friends like Brett Kessler, Dan Griffen, Robert Soto, David Kiser, Shaun Collins, and Charles, who encouraged me along over the past year. Thanks to Rev. Bill Connors for his life-giving message and friendship as well as the support Ive received from my church community group. Thanks to all the patients Ive been privileged to serve at CeDAR, especially Dave G, Jeff C, and John M. Thanks so much to all my mentors, sponsees, friends, and family. Thanks to Joe Arington for providing me the computer on which to write the book. Thanks to Jodi, Bill, and Marilyn for the pre-edits. I want to thank Dennis for being a great friend and mentor for the past twenty-two years.

Lastly, thanks to all the incredible people quoted throughout these pages who have impacted my life in a positive way.

The Gift of Fulfillment is based on the notion that a human being is born withor develops over timea hole within that is characterized by feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, and sadness. Some of us try to fill this hole with anything from food, money, power, prestige, alcohol, drugs, or entertainment, to religion, work, physical fitness, material consumption, people, sex, TV, fantasy, and so forth. Some of these fillers may be good in moderation, but they fail to fully satisfy us. They do not bring us the peace or happiness, the intimacy or sense of connection that we yearn for. After trying for years to fill these holes, people become unhappy and increasingly depressed about their circumstances. They cling to the belief that if things were only different on the outside, they would feel differently on the inside.

This book is a guide for readers who seek to address this void within in a very practical and satisfying way. Its approach is based on the spiritual tools used in twelve-step recovery circles to overcome addiction. With these tools its possible to gain a sense of direction, serenity, and purpose: They are a course in Life 101. The twelve-step tenets apply to anyone who has problemswhich is everyone.

I am a wounded person who has been given the miracle of internal and external transformation over the last twenty-two years. The process of healing and becoming my true self will never be totally complete, but I am the happiest and most connected to God that I have ever been. Throughout most of my life I was tortured by some form of addiction, some obsession, or feelings of inadequacy. I had a major sensitivity to criticism and I depended on sources outside of myself to give me a sense of security and self-worth. I am not cured of my weaknesses, but when I apply the principles outlined in this book, I am able to use my past failures and current struggles for good.

As a confused twenty-three-year-old I was granted the gift of desperation, which has led to the gift of fulfillment. I was a reckless, lonely, and fearful prodigal son who got a second chance at life after I called out for help with my heart. As I will explain, I believe that God got me into the twelve-step recovery movement so that the twelve-step recovery movement, in turn, could get me to God. I want to share this process with anyone who will listen and who feels that there is room for growth within themselves. I believe that the spiritual principles embodied in the Twelve Steps of addiction recovery can help anyone.

Essentially, the Twelve Steps help us take the plank out of our own eye, as Jesus advised, and see life clearly. When I see others, the world, and myself more accurately, I am able to experience forgiveness and a true sense of purpose.

The Gift of Fulfillment