ARC Daily Connect Newsletter—Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

Welcome to the ARC Daily Connect. We're so glad you're here!

Thoughts for the Day—It Wasn't the Craving, It Was the Thought

Lena noticed her cravings always came with a sentence attached: “I can’t handle this.” The more she believed that line, the stronger the craving felt, until giving in seemed inevitable. Later, she realized it wasn’t only the craving that overwhelmed her. It was the thought about the craving.

The brain responds to thoughts as if they’re reality. Believing “I can’t handle this” triggers the body’s alarm system, amplifying stress and intensifying the urge for relief. But when we recognize the sentence as simply a thought, the pressure begins to soften.

Some people find it helpful to shift the language slightly. Instead of “I can’t handle this,” they say, “I’m noticing the thought that I can’t handle this.” Adding those words creates distance. It helps the brain register the sentence as a mental event rather than an absolute truth.

The more we see thoughts for what they are, the less power they have to drive our choices. And each time one of us finds calm in this way, it reminds the rest of us that peace is possible too.

Have an amazing day! SHG

Podcast

Click the button below to access a Google Sheet containing all podcast recordings from January 2025 until present. Please check the tabs at the bottom of the sheet for the month you are looking for. Thanks!

Here are the podcast replay links from the last month.

Gratitude

The benefits of gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by noticing and reflecting upon what they're thankful for experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have more robust immune systems. What are you grateful for today?

ARC Daily Schedule

Here is the ARC Chats and Calls schedule for Thursday

12a EST Awareness Hour - Check-in chats are a place to talk about problems, wins or whatever is on your mind.

4a EST Perseverance Chat - Check-in chats are a place to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind.

6a EST Clarity and Connection Hour - This hour, the host will offer a writing prompt that will allow you to check in with yourself on how you are feeling

7a EST Intention Hour One - Checkin Chats are a place to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind.

8a EST Intention Hour Two - Checkin Chats are a place to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind.

9a EST Study Group - This is where we learn the "whys" of addiction and how to help others.

10a EST Recharge Hour - Financial Recovery Hour - Readings and discussion on how to heal our relationship with money

12 noon EST Mindset Chat - If Joan is hosting, she will give updates on all the exciting things taking place in the ARC. On those days, the Checkin Chat portion of the hour is shorter than other checkins and will take place after this. The checkins are a time to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind

1p EST Study Group - This is where we learn the "whys" of addiction and how to help others.

4p EST Resilience Chat Various ARC Exercises—Checkin Chats are a place to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind. This hour may consist of check-ins, ARC exercises, or a combination of both

5p EST Study Group - This is where we learn the "whys" of addiction and how to help others.

8p EST Community Call - Checkin Chats are a place to talk about problems, wins, or whatever is on your mind. This call is not on Zoom. Please see below for details.

Here is a link to join the Zoom meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5306176558?pwd=b0JKM1prV1NjR3IxeUpmaHB3bjFVdz09

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CHAT

Here is a link to find the ARC Weekly Schedule

WEEKLY ARC CHATS AND CALL SCHEDULE

Zoom room 530-617-6558 Passcode: 123456

How to Join the Community Call (8 pm EST US)

Joining the call is simple! You can participate either online or by phone.
✅ To join online: Go to https://instantteleseminar.com/connect/
✅ To join by telephone (US): Call 425-440-5100 and enter Access Code 329564#
✅ Australia:
• NSW: 02-8279-8670, Access Code 329564#
• Victoria: 03-8373-8670, Access Code 329564#
If you’d like step-by-step help, we also have a short instructional video that shows exactly how to join using the internet: https://vimeo.com/588868517/4de70b7c99

We look forward to being together—just choose the option that works best for you and join us!

Instagram

Come hang out with us on Instagram for daily inspiration, encouragement, and gentle reminders that you're not alone!

Click this link to find us on Instagram

Specialty Pods and Facebook Groups

ARC specialty Facebook groups include:

ARC - ARM Addiction Recovery Ministries (Christians in Recovery)
ARC Plant-based Rotation
ARC Members Food Rotation Pod (Plant & Animal Proteins)
Digging the ARC Gardening
FAR Uniquely Neurodivergent
ARC - Writing Circle

ARC specialty Messenger Pods include:

Aging Well
ARC Crafts/Painting/Puzzles/Art
ARC Financial Freedom
ARC Pets & Animals Park
ARC Teachers
Canadian
Christians in Recovery from PF
Christian FARAs
Digging the ARC Gardening
ARC Community Call for Members
Eliminate a Food or Behavior Pod
FAR CAPS (Cross Addiction Pod for multi-substance addictions)
FAR Empowerment Pod (Bariatric Recovery)
ARC Parts Work
FAR Let's Travel
FAR Rainbow Room
The Raising Kids Pod
FAR Self-Compassion
Freedom From Clutter
ARC Knifty Knitters & Crochet Club
Men of the ARC
Movement/Nature/Yoga/Exercise/Wheels/Water Hosts & Co-Hosts
Neurodivergent Pod
Strength and Athletic Pod
Spanish Speaking
Textbook Talk
Yoga Pod

Is there a pod that you would like to see? Please let us know, and we will add them to the 'needs' list.
If you have questions, please email: [email protected]