Episode 15 - Featuring Michele Weinstat Miller

Today I’m joined by Michele Weinstat Miller, a 4X published author, 

Michele's books have been named "Best of 2019" by Strand Magazine; 

Outstanding August 2021 Mystery & Suspense title by Library Journal; 

and semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. Kirkus Reviews 

calls her "Mary Higgins Clark with Teeth." Michele now serves as 

General Counsel for a non-profit agency that provides re-entry services 

to the formerly incarcerated. Michele is also a very long-term sober human.

Michele and I start with her interesting, compelling, and heartfelt story of dysfunction, difficulty, bad decisions and move on from there. 

Tough beginnings, family dynamics play into how we start and who we become, self-respect, ego, super-achiever in every other area of life. 4.0 grades, how could there be a problem? Graduated NYU Law by age 22. Selling drugs in lieu of practicing law. Morally and ethically bankrupt. Switching seats on the Titanic doesn’t work. Disbarred.

Found the 12 steps, giving back, enjoying life, gratitude. The writing journey is an interesting and challenging one. Writing thrillers about aspects of sobriety. Being pulled back in The Lower Power, from peace and serenity, to the darkness.

How the writing flows through, how writing is a gift we’re given. More gratitude. We are responsible for nurturing our gifts. We are responsible for doing the work. Giving ourselves permission to take a break. Alanon and Zen come together: “don’t just do something, sit there.” 

Helping others based on our experiences. Giving back. Our experience, strength, and hope is our superpower as recovering people.

It takes spiritual work to be on this planet in a way that is happy. The benefit of gratitude lists. How doe we keep from being obsessive about our “next goal”? 

Letting go of the old idea of “I’m doing something wrong” if I’m not being constantly productive. Letting go of the old shame installed in us. Perfectionism.

Feelings pass? Really? Who knew! Light bulb moments in recovery. 11th Step taught them that 90% of problems are in how we think. We mentally create a world in which we cannot live.

The imaginary conversations we have with ourselves and others, sometimes without even knowing it.

When practicing principles becomes a habit for us, we might be getting somewhere. As we move forward, “the best wrong answer” is usually all we’re going to get. We don’t have to be perfect. 

So important to surround ourselves with like-minded people when we decide to get better. Be around people who want to live the life you want to live. Find people that have what you want, from a spiritual perspective. 

Please find Michele, her books, and her links at Michele W. Miller (michelewmiller.com)