Episode 62: The Miracle of Change with Danny Deaton

Danny Deaton knows how to change and how to do difficult change. He went from a strung-out addict who nearly lost his life to drugs to become a man who deeply loves his life, his family, and his work helping other families overcome and heal from addiction. He is truly living proof that you can change anything.

In this special episode of the podcast, I interview Danny and find out how he changed his life. The things he shared will inspire you, help you give up your excuses, discover what’s in your way, and motivate you to stop letting temporary solutions prevent you from making the real, permanent changes you want in your life.

For more information on Danny and his work to heal families facing addiction, go to https://www.yourlivingproof.com

Danny Deaton was a junkie who nearly lost his life to his addiction. But he became a man who loves his life deeply, has an amazing family, and fulfilling work helping other families facing addiction.

Danny was able to change his life in fundamental ways. He was able to change the way he thought about himself, the way he thought about his life, and he has created a life he loves.

And on some level, every one of us is trying to do just that. Every one of us has a desire to create something different in our life. And so I brought Danny on because he is an expert at difficult change and how we do it.

Here are some of the key takeaways he shared:

1. Change is possible – Don’t give up. Every one of us struggles to change. But change always starts with desire, a desire to live differently. That desire will lead to action.

2. There is no solution as permanent as a temporary solution – We find temporary solutions for our pain and they keep us from really changing. We put up with so much when we think that it’s just temporary and that “someday” we will change. But that becomes the way we live and ends up becoming permanent.

3. Change takes time – It’s hard to let go of our past, but we just need to take small steps forward. It starts with the slightest belief that something else might be possible, that an alternative future is available.

4. Believe in a power greater than yourself – Change requires action but it also requires a belief in something that will help you along the way, that you aren’t just on your own.

5. We are all just trying to soothe our pain and that’s what prevents change – When we feel pain, we try to avoid it and so we choose buffers but they keep us from living our best life. We have to give those buffers up and find the pain underneath.

6. Our secrets keep us sick – Whatever we are ashamed of or keeping secret, ends up keeping us stuck and keeps us from changing.

7. There are 4 lies keeping us from change – These are the things we believe that prevent us from living the way we want to.

FEAR – It will be hard or I’m going to do it wrong.
VICTIM – It’s too hard for me
HOPE – I hope that someday things will change
SHAME – I am terrible and I can’t change

8. Hope keeps us from changing – Hope puts the responsibility of change outside of us. We have to get into action instead of just staying in “hope.”

9. You need strategies to deal with negative emotion – Think about how long you allow yourself to stay stuck in negative emotion. Have techniques to get your thoughts working for you. Share your feelings, do a thought download, get honest with yourself and notice what’s going on with yourself instead of ignoring it.

10. Practice the 3 G’s: Good, Grateful, Goal – Every day notice something good that happened, something you’re grateful for, and a goal you have for the day. It’s a simple practice that redirects your thoughts.

Mentioned on the podcast:

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Danny Deaton, Your Living Proof Intervention

On Instagram: @yourlivingproof

Danny’s story

To read or download a written transcript of the entire episode, simply click the link below.