Sexual Addiction Recovery - LifeSTAR Network

COR-CARD^TM COACH

What is a Cor-Card?
Simply put, a Cor-Card is an inexpensive tool to help you live your life with purpose and achieve your goals one day at a time.

How did the Cor-Card get its name? What does it mean?
The Cor-Card is the brainchild of LifeSTAR Network co-founders Todd Olson and Dan Gray. An important part of their Recovery from Sexual Addiction program is teaching their clients about instinct vs. conscious living and explaining how they can use that knowledge to overcome their addictive habits. In clinical terms, the cerebral cortex is the part of our brain that can override instinct, which is what separates us from the animal kingdom. The cerebral cortex helps us to reason and make healthy choices. It is where we process information and where we find the key to controlling—and extinguishing—addictive behavior. By activating the cerebral cortex, or the voice of reason, we can take charge of the choices we make and keep our brains from running on "auto-pilot." We call this "conscious living"-being constantly aware of the choices we make.

How does the Cor-Card work?
Advance planning is the key to conscious living. To help you get in the habit of conscious living and of activating the cerebral cortex, we suggest you start each day by filling out a new Cor-Card. Then keep it with you throughout the day to help you stay focused on your goals.

What should I celebrate today?
Starting the day by asking yourself what you will celebrate engages the cerebral cortex and plants positive feelings that can reap great rewards throughout your day. Fill in the blank with something for which you are grateful, or that makes you laugh, or brings you joy, or that you would like to bless, or be reminded of. To celebrate is to praise or pay tribute, or admire or acknowledge. You can celebrate the beautiful dawn, or the fact that it's Friday. Some days your celebration list may be overflowing, and other days you may be hard-pressed to find one small notion, but the important thing is that you do it each day.

Why do I need a Food Plan if I'm not on a diet?
Since everybody has to eat, writing down your food plan in advance is just one more very effective way of engaging your cerebral cortex. What you eat-or plan to eat-is not so important. The value comes from writing it down in advance and then doing your best to stick to it, thus eating consciously rather than instinctively.

Healthy Living? What's that?
Just stopping addictive behavior does not constitute recovery. True recovery will only take place when addictive behaviors are replaced by healthy behaviors. Take time each day to schedule healthy-living activities that lead you toward your goals, that help you succeed, and that keep you sober.

Can I keep track of my appointments and my to-do list on my Cor-Card?
Instead of using this card as a daily planner with all your appointments and activities listed, we are asking that you just choose one thing that you have been putting off-for whatever reason-and commit to accomplishing it. It may be as simple as making the doctor appointment you should've made two months ago, or washing your car, or cleaning out your desk drawer. Or it may be something more complex such as doing your taxes. Our clients have been amazed at how this simple process has given them such a sense of satisfaction, when at the end of the day they know they have followed through and completed at least one task that has been nagging at them. And you'll be surprised at how these little one-a-day accomplishments add up and help you get caught up on your to-do list.

A bonus on the back—Affirmations and inspirational thoughts
To add value to the Cor-Card, we have included on the back side inspirational thoughts and affirmations that you can turn to when you need to refocus. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of affirmations. It takes a lot of time and practice to rewrite the tapes that play in your head, but through persistence and consistent affirmations you will be able to rewrite those tapes. Positive thinking is not the whole solution; it's not that simple. But true statements about your true self as if you were already there will enhance your recovery and can lead to new conclusions and solutions to your problems.

I don't see anything on the Cor-Cards relating to addiction or getting over bad habits.
Using the Cor-Card principles and engaging the cerebral cortex, is a great way for any person (addicted or not) to improve his or her life, and start living more consciously. These cards have been used with great success by partners and families of addicts, and by people who are suffering from addictions other than sexual, as well as by those who are already living healthy lifestyles. They are also finding favor with those who feel bogged down by cumbersome daily planners or by the oft-confusing multitude of high-tech gadgets on the market today.

In short, Cor-Cards are a simple and refreshingly low-tech way to get back to the core of what really matters one day at a time.