The Next Right STEPS podcast: Recent Episodes
Steve C. Ward
If you or someone close to you is struggling, here are proven techniques to improve your life and prevent addiction and bad habits from taking you down. Hear from someone who’s been there how you can find more peace, joy, and purpose in your life, starting today!
The world’s most effective (and misunderstood) life improvement program has been used successfully by millions of people. Amazingly, most others aren’t even aware of it! Learn how you can worry less, be happier, and find meaning and significance one day at a time. And how you can prevent addiction from ruining your life or the life of someone you care about.
Because we all have issues, and it seems that everyone is addicted to something. But you don’t have to reinvent the wheel or haphazardly search the internet for help. There are proven principles from the world of recovery that can lead you on a daily journey to a better life. There is hope and promise for the future, if you take the next right steps.
I’ve been researching what experts say on grandparenting. There are different points of view, but one key point has hit me: To be a great grandparent, it’s not so much what you do that matters—it’s more about who you are and how much you care.
Sometimes the best way to be there for others and serve as an example is by being real about our own life even as we work to improve it. And by recognizing that to be the best mentor, friend, spouse, parent, or grandparent we can be, we need to be the best person we can be.
But how do we do that? How do we work on our problems, improve our lives, and yet still serve as an example for others at the same time?
Parents, is it harder connecting with your teenagers than when they were younger?
Kids change in the teenage years, and the ways we communicate with them need to change too. If your relationship with your teenage son or daughter is different, more complicated, or much more difficult than it used to be, there are some things you should understand.
Do you communicate effectively with your family? Do you ever hurt those closest to you? Do you want to have better family relationships?
If you are like most of us, you want to have good relationships but the way you communicate may not be as effective as it could be, and we all have blind spots that get in the way. When we hurt those close to us, it is often because we don’t communicate well enough. If we can correct the communication mistakes we make and add some positive techniques instead, our family relationships can greatly improve.
Remember that how your kids build connection is affected by their relationship with God and how they feel about themselves. With that foundation in place, it is easier and more effective when you set the right example and teach them how to connect with others effectively.
It can be easy to feel stuck in this life, but it's important to remember that you hold the power to improve it!
While this may sound like an "easier said than done" concept, there are specific actions and mindsets that allow us to elevate our surroundings.
We share a few important things to know to begin taking the steps to improve your life here.
No matter what industry you work in, employers and managers must understand that people are their greatest company asset–and it's important to treat them right.
It's important to let people at every level of your business feel valued, and there are specific measures you can take to do so.
We share a few strategies here, along with a more in-depth look at the importance of becoming great at "the people business."
Do you remember what it was like to view the world through the eyes of your childhood self?
Every day, every new experience, every brief journey felt like the adventure of a lifetime.
Our Executive Director discusses the beauty of that perspective further here.
The word "relapse" is a scary one for anyone that knows someone who has struggled with addiction in the past.
Years of hard work and improvement are seemingly erased, and a life is back to being endangered - but there is hope.
Our Executive Director discusses some signs to look for before a relapse, and things to remember if a loved one returns to their vices here.
Addiction is not something people plan on entering their lives, it happens gradually. What started as a hobby or coping mechanism can become a serious concern.
Self-awareness is key in stopping ourselves from letting a situation spiral out of control, and there are steps that can be taken to help you recognize this problem.
Read more from our founder Steve Ward, who has seen the importance of this lesson in his own life.
Did you know that 38,000 people per year die of a drug overdose in the United States? That's over 100 people each day.
While this statistic is understandably terrifying for parents to hear, there are also positive stats that show the power of prevention.
Being aware of the dangers of addiction, but also where to get help is crucial for your family's well-being. We share a few important things to know here.
Addiction is a worldwide problem that has existed for centuries, and the disease continues to haunt families today.
Much like other illnesses, researchers are now focusing on prevention as a primary tool to treat addiction.
We take a closer look at what that looks like, and the role STEPS plays in this important process, here.
Drinking is a common occurrence in the world we live in. Many people use alcohol to relax after work, enjoy time with friends, or briefly dull life's stresses.
But if you've ever sat back and wondering if your life is impacted by drinking, it may be time to ask yourself some questions.
We introduce some things to consider here, and encourage you to lovingly pass this on to friends and family that you think this could help.
Men are typically not known for bringing baggage into or overthinking their relationships, but this assumption immediately gives way when looking at the dynamic between a father and their son.
It can be hard to deal with the many difficulties that arise with raising a young man, but the end results are more than worth the hassle.
Patience, trust, and understanding go a long way in seeing our boys become men themselves. Learn more here.
In this podcast, I talk about a skill I developed in my drinking days: rationalization. Whether you have bad habits or not, it's important to be self-aware, so I'll give you some examples of the rationalizations I told myself for years.
In the Bible, a blessing is a sign of God's grace and assurance that the one being blessed has a purpose in this world. Blessing our children can remind them of these important truths.
This is extra important when they are going through troubled times. It can be easy to act in frustration during these moments, but turning to blessing is the right option for both parent and child.
Our Executive Director, Steve Ward, shares more insights along with a blessing he wrote for his own son here.
The term VUCA was created by the U.S. Army War College to assist leaders across the world in adapting to the rapid changes that came following the end of the Cold War.
But the variables addressed by this approach - Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity - can be found in today's world as well.
Learn more about the VUCA strategy, and how it can help both your workplace and your personal life, here.
While addiction is a deeply personal battle for everyone who experiences it, there are some signs we all share while falling into this dreaded condition.
Thoughts lead to considerations, which then impact our attitudes and actions - ultimately leading to addiction. Staying aware of what each stage looks like is crucial for avoiding potential harm.
Our Executive Director, Steve Ward, breaks this down further here.
Adults can give all the advice they want on how to prevent teenagers from experimenting with drugs and alcohol, but that doesn't stop kids from coming across these temptations.
Listening to youth who've experienced this struggle first-hand provides key insights to what goes through the mind of a teenager in the 21st century.
Learn some crucial things to be aware of directly from a young person who has struggled with substance abuse here, and feel free to visit our website at lifeimprovementsteps.com for more insights.
Unfortunately, those who suffer from addiction also often have to deal with stigmatization in our society.
This judgement does nothing for those dealing with a very real disease, and only creates an extra barrier for those trying to seek help.
We discuss why stigmatizing those suffering from addiction is so harmful, and other ways to approach this familiar problem for so many families, here.
Parenting can often feel like a responsive role - helping our children grow as they come across life's new obstacles.
But if we pay attention to certain traits ahead of time, we can use this information to help shape our child's future before the challenges grow too big.
We took a closer look at some key characteristics that children often have, what they mean, and how to turn this knowledge into a proactive parenting tool here.
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most popular movie series of all times, and not just because everybody likes watching Orlando Bloom beat up orcs!
The idea of finding our purpose in a story that is bigger than ourselves resonates both in the movies and in reality. Along the way, many trials will be faced - and how we respond helps to determine the outcome.
We discuss this concept, and the beauty that it serves, more here.
Even when we want to stop drinking, it's hard for many to picture what a life without alcohol would look like. But even in the tough moments of sobriety there are endless benefits to this decision.
Our Executive Director, Steve Ward, has gone through this journey - and has experienced the positives that come with it first-hand.
We take a closer look at what life before alcohol, life during alcohol, and life after alcohol look like here.
Parents want to see the best for our children, but even our best intentions can actually have a negative impact if we aren't careful.
Many parents make the same mistakes - it's nothing to be ashamed of. But learning how to avoid these common occurrences can do wonders for our children.
Learn more with this podcast from STEPS Ministries.
Wanting to be successful in business is a perfectly normal goal, but many people who make this their life's mission show signs of addiction.
Whether it's becoming a workaholic or being overly controlling, there are plenty of symptoms to be aware of.
We discuss a few things to know about the cost of high achievement here.
We live in a society where downtime is seen as a reward for hard work, and that's certainly not a bad thing! But too much downtime can lead to problems as well.
Should parents be thoughtful about downtime their children face with holidays and the summer? Yes. Can too much free time cause issues for adults? Yes again.
Downtime can be a very good thing, so it's worth some thought to keep it that way.
Are we all addicted to something? To some degree, yes.
Addiction is when we keep doing things even though they have negative consequences. And we find ourselves unable to stop that harmful behavior.
Steve Ward, our Executive Director, discusses the various aspects of addiction and how to address these concerns.
All parents want to protect their kids from harm and for them to have happy lives. The question is: “How?”
The acronym “P-A-C-E-S” is a tool to help parents know what to do.
Learn more here.
The journey from teenager to adult looks different for everyone, and it can be stressful to watch our children struggle with the temptations that occur during this stage.
We can't control every aspect of our kids' lives, and that's for the better. What we can do is use empathy to better understand them so we can help them grow into the person they are meant to be.
Because that is more important than who we want them to be.
We all have our own spiritual journey. The 5 STEPS are a guide that can help you better understand this process of spiritual growth.
At the same time, you can improve the quality of life and find more peace, joy, and purpose.
Whether you pay attention to your spiritual journey or choose to ignore it will affect virtually every other aspect of your life. Life can be better, one step at a time.
Part 1 of this series showed 3 ways in which white collar professionals face risk from substance abuse. Unfortunately, there are 3 more areas we need to talk about.
White-collar addiction occurs in virtually every company, especially with high-achievers. The good news is that there are things that can be done to prevent it.
For anyone in the workforce, this is something worth thinking about
Addiction only happens to lower-income people, not professionals with important-sounding jobs who make lots of money. Right?
Wrong. Substance abuse occurs in every group of people. And, in many ways, white collar professionals are actually at higher risk!
No matter what you do for a living, this is something worth thinking about.
You may not consider yourself to be an author, but we're all writing our own unique life stories. Full of drama, defeat, and victory—it's a book worth reading!
See a video featuring Meredith Stone, a member of the STEPS Ministries team, as she talks more about "Writing Your Life Story."
Because the next chapter could be the best one yet.
Many parents want to control their kids, whether they realize it or not. But there’s a problem with that approach—in the long run, it won’t work!
But you are a strong influence on them. The key is to find the right balance to guide them and set boundaries while allowing them to develop who they are.
You can be a great parent. Without trying to control your kids.
You have a world view, a way of thinking that guides all that you do and the choices you make. Have you ever thought about what it is?
Check out the short video featuring Gunnar Sadowey, a young member of the STEPS Ministries team. Then, listen to a podcast or read the full article to learn more.
Because the way you think about the world changes everything.
Being high-functioning doesn't mean you don't have an alcohol or addiction problem, but it can prevent you from seeking help.
Our founder, Steve Ward, knows this from first-hand experience. After decades of being a high-functioning alcoholic, he realized something had to change.
Steve shares his story, and the lessons learned, here. Please share with those who may be in need of this information.
It is within your control to improve your life emotionally, spiritually, and personally.
Pause and think about that. Because you can live life better, better handle any issues you have, and grow closer to God. All at the same time!
But it won’t happen by itself, and it’s up to you to take the next right step.
It is within your control to improve your life emotionally, spiritually, and personally.
Pause and think about that. Because you can live life better, better handle any issues you have, and grow closer to God. All at the same time!
But it won’t happen by itself, and it’s up to you to take the next right step.
These days, there are many risks that kids and teenagers may face in life. Most parents desperately want to protect them from those dangers.
But we can’t control our kids or be with them everywhere they go.
What can parents do? We can apply some simple, yet powerful, principles that will keep our kids safe. By helping them learn to protect themselves.
The path to addiction often goes through a predictable series of phases.
You are likely close to someone moving in that direction. And they may not know how their thinking and choices are changing.
But if people develop awareness of the behavior or addiction, they may make better choices. Perhaps there is someone you can help. Or maybe this article is for you.
Many parents are confused these days about how to deal with vaping.
I get that, because there’s not one perfect answer. But there are some things you should consider, and we’ll go through them in this article.
Whether you think your kids will vape or not, you need to be proactive and think it through. If they try it, you’ll be ready. If they don’t, you’ll be more prepared for what they do try.
If you only read, watch, or listen to 1 thing today, this is a great one to choose.
In 5 minutes, you can learn some life-changing steps you can take to improve your life. They come from an unexpected source: the world of recovery!
It’s your choice to move on to your next task or learn practical steps to help you improve your life, grow closer to God, and prevent addiction. Which step will you take?
Vaping is very common among teenagers these days. And it’s growing rapidly.
If any of your kids are vaping, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. But it could become a serious concern and lead to more addictive habits.
Which makes it important to be proactive. To get ahead of issues teenagers will face and build a plan for how you will address them.
Think how much better the world would be if there was a vaccine for addiction.
There may not be a vaccination we can get in a shot. But there are steps we can take to protect ourselves from issues and compulsive habits. Together, these 5 STEPS will help prevent addiction.
And also help us live life better in the process.
Have you ever wondered if someone can become addicted to their digital devices? Unfortunately, the answer is no longer in doubt.
Digital detox expert Holland Haiis says, “Technological addiction can happen to anyone. It is the new 21st century addiction.”
This should be a significant concern for everyone. Especially parents.
Parents ask me all the time whether their kids can get addicted to their digital devices. Unfortunately, the answer is “yes.”
We all use cell phones and laptops. Social media and the internet are a part of our everyday life. The problem is excessive uses of digital devices
Because the abuse of technology devices has many of the same characteristics as other addictions. And many of the dangers as well.
It's important for parents to understand how to evaluate the risks their teenagers may be facing. And it's encouraging to see that parents can make a difference in the choices their sons and daughter make, and they can help prevent addiction from becoming a problem.
Do you know someone who seems to be stuck in an unhealthy behavior?
Helping people is an opportunity to serve someone who may be struggling. It is also a challenge, but there are things we can do.
It starts by meeting them where they are and then doing what we can to help.
It can be very tough on Moms and Dads when one of their kids is struggling.
But you can still be a great parent, and there are useful steps you can take. In this part 2 of our 2-part article, we’ll discuss the “E”, the “A”, and the “T” of being a G-R-E-A-T parent.
Because many teenagers deal with issues such as anxiety or depression. Sometimes, more than you may know, they also struggle with substance abuse.
I know what parents feel like if their teenager is struggling. Because I’ve been there.
But you can still be a great parent, and there are some practical steps you can take. In part 1 of this 2-part article, we’ll discuss the “G” and the “R” of being a G-R-E-A-T parent.
We’ll talk about what you can do even if your son or daughter is facing personal issues. And even if they are dealing with substance abuse.
Many parents have good intentions about how they will raise their kids. But do they have a plan for how to be the best parent they can be?
In other words, do they practice proactive parenting?
Parenting is one of the most important roles you will ever play. By putting proactive parenting into practice, you can be a GREAT parent!
If someone we know is struggling, we can help them by meeting them where they are. We can learn there are common behaviors people portray when dealing with an issue in their life.
Wherever they may be, we can help them know they are not alone. It starts with meeting them where they are.
It’s important to learn how to balance our parenting with both grace and truth.
To adopt a view of grace that does not remove boundaries or consequences for our kids but, instead, gives us the courage to enforce them in a loving manner.
This balance of grace and truth plays out in the tasks great parents engage in, and we’ll go through five of those areas in this article.
Everybody feels blue at times. Any of us may be sad for a while when things seem to be going wrong. Being depressed is more than that.
And, right now, you or someone you know is dealing with depression.
Clinical depression is a medical issue, and seeing a doctor may become necessary. But there are also steps you can take to feel better, one day at a time.
Even though we may not be aware of it, many of us have an inner belief that life should be perfect. The reality is that it will never be that way.
But there are things we can do to be content even when life is not perfect.
We can learn to think differently and build joy into our daily existence. We do that by changing our point of view.
Do you know where your kids develop their initial understanding of God? From you. Through what you teach, and the example you set for them.
But kids and teenagers are at different levels in their spiritual development, so you can’t deal with them the same.
But, no matter what their age, there are some good things you can do.
If you suspect someone at work has an addiction problem, you have a choice to make. The easy approach is to do nothing; and that’s what many people choose.
But is that the right thing to do?
Because you have an opportunity to help them, and it’s not as hard to do as you may think.
Think what life would be like if you could let go of those things that worry and sometimes obsess you.
Envision living with less anxiety. Feel that peace, and taste the freedom that such a life would bring. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Your kids can live a life of excellence.
It’s not something they have to be born with, and it is not reserved for a privileged few. Excellence is a goal they can achieve if they are willing to focus and work hard.
If you want your kids to be successful, help them develop the habits to achieve excellence.
Many people have a spouse who struggles with alcohol or drugs. In Part 1 of this article, we talked about how you can take care of yourself when that is the case.
But there are also things you can do for your spouse. This article will give you 5 areas you can work on to meet them where they are and do what you can to help.
Your lives will never again be what they were before. But, hopefully, they can be better!
We all relate to stress at different levels. Day to day, we adjust ourselves and our expectations, sort of like changing a thermostat.
Evidence shows that we can change how we think about stress, and we can adjust how we go about experiencing life.
We don’t have to live a life of quiet desperation. Instead, we can learn to thrive!
Culture is evolving rapidly. In the midst of this massive change, a critical question presents itself: Who is teaching your kids?
The internet and cell phones, television, schools, and friends are all teaching your kids. But are you?
And to teach your kids effectively, you will need to be proactive.
If your spouse is struggling with alcohol or drugs, it can be very tough, and you will want to do anything you can for the person you love.
But to best take care of your spouse, you need to take care of yourself first. This podcast will give you 5 areas you can work on to do just that.
And in Part 2, we will talk about what you can do for them.
Gallup News reported that almost 8 in 10 Americans are stressed at times. And many studies point out that one of the biggest causes of stress is work!
But people and companies can benefit from good stress management techniques, which is what this article is about.
Because we all face stress, but there are things we can learn to do about it.
There are negative traits that influence young people toward substance abuse. But it’s exciting to learn that you can vaccinate your kids against these problems.
You do that helping them develop more positive behaviors instead.
If you model and teach those behaviors, you will help protect your kids from addiction. And you can also enhance their emotional well-being and improve their life.
Research shows that at least 10% of Americans are affected by work addiction, and some estimates are as high as 15%-25%. But what does that mean?
Work becomes an addiction when you regularly work either excessively or compulsively, such as when other aspects of your life suffer and you find it hard to change.
I know, because I still struggle with it. Do you?
There are some fundamental principles that can help you become a great parent. You can integrate those behaviors into your own life and teach them to your kids.
It will help them build character to protect and serve them for the rest of their lives.
These areas are so important that every Mom and Dad needs to understand them. Because, with a little thought and planning, anyone can be a great parent.
By the time I reached Junior High, I had learned (wrongly) what being a man meant: never show weakness, always be in control, and work really hard.
Many men believe that lie. And they use busy-ness, accomplishment, recognition, or addictions in an unconscious struggle to avoid the shame of weakness.
The good news is that men can find freedom in learning the truth.
Proactive parenting is when we are intentional about taking steps to encourage positive outcomes in our kids’ lives rather than waiting until there is a problem.
It includes taking an integrated, balanced approach that will contribute positively to our kids’ development in the areas that matter most, which is a key skill to learn.
Because parenting is too important to do anything but our best.
Do you enjoy sports? How about football? Did you know there are many lessons we can learn from football about how play the game of life effectively?
Including concepts we may not normally think about as we watch our favorite team. Principles such as being intentional, having a game plan, and dealing with setbacks.
Once we start noticing all that we can learn, we can enjoy football even more.
There are areas all of us can improve upon as parents. Sometimes, it’s helpful to have them called to our attention. That’s what this story is meant to do.
Many parents are busy or distracted. Some are unaware of dangers facing their kids, and others are a victim of negative habits or ways of thinking that affect how they raise their kids.
As you listen to or read the story, see if there are any areas you might want to think about.
We all have questions about God and how (or even "if") he plays a role in our lives.
I had lots of questions about God for most of my life. In fact, I still do. Because how God works is both mysterious and miraculous. But it is fascinating to think about how it happens and become expectant enough to start looking for it to occur.
But you don't want to be near the end of your life and look back and wonder, "What if God was there?"
I used to wonder: was God there only later in my life, or was he there before and I didn't notice?Now, I have no doubt that God’s involvement in my life and his power and grace were what got me through and led me forward. I actually appreciate the tough times we endured, and my faith in Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life. I have no doubt God was there all along. Hear more about this journey here.
Do you know anyone who’s into getting in shape, yet ignores other areas they need to work on?
Perhaps they’re one of those people who always eats the right foods (you know, the kale and quinoa crowd) and who seems to be at the gym all the time. But maybe they have a bad habit—one they can’t stop that is messing up their lives—that they do nothing about.
The approach many people—and companies—take to wellness is like that. But what is wellness? I discuss this further here.
Is it okay to drink alcohol? Yes, it is okay.
As long as you read the rest of this article and thoughtfully consider all it says.
Research validates that parents positively impact their kids by talking to them, and there are some things that desperately need to be said. Such as: “You are loved, you have great value, and you have a good future.” And, “It’s okay not to be okay sometimes.”
Young people also need to know they are responsible for their decisions, and that some choices can be very dangerous. There are some really important things we need to talk to our kids about as they get older—they are what every teenager needs to hear.
We all feel stress at times, but it doesn’t have to debilitate us. You can find more peace and serenity, and the 5 proven tools in this article will help. Stress may be your daily companion now, but it doesn’t have to be that way in the future.
Gallup says that 8 in 10 Americans are afflicted by anxiety on a daily basis. But one of the amazing things about resilience is that it can be learned, and with practice you can get better at handling any stress that comes along.
Many people haven’t yet learned what can be a life-changing secret: anyone can benefit from a lifestyle of recovery! Some of life’s most important lessons are captured in the principles of recovery, and you can find more peace, joy, and purpose if you give them a try.
Recovery is about much more that addiction—it’s a lifestyle! Your world doesn’t have to be coming apart to benefit from the lessons of recovery. Amazingly, you will likely enjoy it, you will certainly get a lot out of it, and it might change your life.
The traits of high-performing people align strongly with those of addiction, and alcoholics are often from a white collar background and in positions of leadership. There are millions of high-functioning alcoholics everywhere, including some you know.
They are good people, but they have a need for alcohol. They use it to relax, handle stress, or for reasons they may not understand. But they can find a peace and happiness they have never known before. And they can become even more productive, with greater resilience and sharper judgment.
“VUCA” means Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, and it has become the new normal. VUCA poses challenges to businesses, and it can be debilitating to employees. And because stress, lack of engagement, and addiction are people issues, they need to be addressed by people solutions.
In these hectic times, good companies will focus not only on surviving, but on thriving in a VUCA world. And they can help their employees become better professionally and personally by developing their skills in areas such as awareness, resilience, connection, and intentionality.