Jan. 16, 2025

Overcoming Addiction Jessi Hartnett's Journey to Self-Discovery

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Join us on this inspiring episode of the Living the Dream with Curveball podcast as we delve into the world of addiction and recovery with author Jessi Hartnett. Discover her journey from addiction to self-discovery, and learn how spiritual concepts and self-worth helped her overcome her struggles. Jessie shares insights from her book "Honor Your Heart," offering guidance on using intuition and heart-centered approaches to combat addiction. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on finding your true self and living a life free from addiction.
www.honoryourheart.net
Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodM atch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Welcome, um, to the Living the Dream podcast with Curveball. Uh, if you believe you can achieve.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Welcome to the Living the Dream with Curveball podcast, a show where I interview guests that teach, motivate and inspire.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Today we're going to be talking about addiction, as I am joined by author Jessie Hardnett. Jesse became addicted, and she wished she knew then what she knew now. So she wants to spread the message and talk to people and help give them the strength to fight their addiction and get through it. So we're going to be talking to Jesse about that and her wonderful book. So, Jesse, thank you so much for joining today.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Hey there. I'm real happy to be here. Thanks for having me on.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Why don't you start off by telling everybody a little bit about yourself?

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> Jessie Hardnett>Yeah. So, um, let's just start with, uh, the smoking. I. I started smoking when I was about 13 years old.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And, you know, at that time, when you're young, you're kind of looking for an identity. You're looking for a community. You got this call on you to figure out who you are.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And so that's how I ended up going into smoking with some older friends and just got hooked right off the bat. Quickly became a, uh, priority for me, you know, spent a lot of time and effort and energy trying to get my smokes and get money for it and kind of just became my main hobby. You know, I stopped doing the things that I like doing and was pretty much like all I did with my friends. Everything centered around smoking and drinking and partying.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And despite all that, though, I kind of had, like, this other side of me that was super perfectionist and really driven. So I was, like, doing really well in school and working really hard.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And it looked like from the outside that, you know, I was excelling and successful, but, like, internally I was really struggling kind of like with my self perception, my esteem, and like, with all the ups and downs of, you know, smoking and drinking and, um, just, you know, continue to go on this way for many, many years, all through high school, through college, and was, like, really unsatisfied. Like, kind of just felt like a part of me was missing the whole time and, like, everything changed. There was, like a moment where it's just like I started to get introduced to spiritual concepts. I. Until then I was like a real science person. Like, everything was numbers and facts, and if I couldn't see it, then I wouldn't believe it. And I thought that meant that we're all here accidentally, that, you know, we have no purpose in life and there's really no meaning to anything we do or say. And so that. That was the kind of attitude that was driving me to keep hurting myself by smoking. And then I got introduced to the spiritual concept of, like, self worth, self love, like, coming into the world, like, already having a soul and a purpose. And, um, you know, we kind of forget that when we're born here. But we all have gifts to bring. And the real fun part of life is discovering those gifts, discovering who you are and letting your light shine and make the world a better place. So that once I kind of had that idea, it just really struck my heart, and I was like, wow, maybe there is something more than just paying bills here. And so started going down that path and, um, just started kind of like, paying attention to the thoughts I was having more because I was kind of like an autopilot, just getting by, just working hard, trying to get things done, checking lists off. And, um, wasn't just going through the motions, just kind of taking the way I was looking at the world for granted. Like, this is the way I see it, and this is the way it is, and that's the way it is for everybody. But then when I slowed down and I was really listening to the things I was telling myself, they were so negative and harsh and, like, why am I talking to myself like this? Like, I wouldn't talk to somebody else like that, you know?

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> Jessie Hardnett>And so I was able to make a real clear link between having a negative thought or, uh, a really strong emotion that kind of I didn't want to deal with and wanting to smoke. And that was the key, because up until then, I had tried to smoke like, or try to stop smoking, like, I don't even know how many times, like, dozens. And then, like, every time it was because I was trying to use, like, my head. I was, like, trying to reason myself. I'm m. Like, come on, you know, this is a bad thing, and the numbers aren't in your favor. But, like, that wasn't enough to address that, like, emotional reaction need I had in the given moments. Like, I just want to feel good right now. I don't care about later. And so when I was able to connect, like, hey, there's something like an underlying thought here, an underlying drive.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And that's. Maybe I should start focusing on that instead of, like, oh, just, you know, don't smoke, don't see cigarettes, avoid it all. All that kind of thing. And so that's what really, um, helped me be able to quit after 15 years of smoking.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Okay, so did Your did your smoking addiction lead to, you know, the other harder drugs or was it just ah, smoking cigarettes and drinking?

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> Jessie Hardnett>I smoked a lot of uh, pot, marijuana. I started with that pretty early too. So it was like pretty much daily smoking cigarettes and pot and then, um, drinking. I came back into like with college and um, you know, kind of I was able to function the whole time. So that's why like, it didn't really seem like I was an alcoholic because it's like, well, you know, I'm showing up to work, I'm paying my bills, I must be doing good. But it's more about the feeling you get when you do it and you know, just kind of having a hard time slowing down with it. You know, I was, when I did do it, I was always drinking a lot. So that's kind of like, was mainly what I do. I would try other things too, of course. You know, I, I really didn't really pass up much. But um, it was smoking that I, it was like the in, day, in day out kind of thing. And um, yeah, once I was able to quit though, it was like totally different person. Like I thought that's who I was and that was my identity. But I am so much more than that. And it just kind of, it's like so freeing to get rid of that distraction and that ah, kind of obsession.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And you can just open up your life and try so many things and um, really figure out who you are and find a way to like, take care of yourself. I think that was like the biggest motivator for me is that I just started like working on my self esteem and self worth. And then I just didn't want to smoke anymore or do any of that stuff. Like I don't miss it at all.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And that was like a big deal for me because when I was young, everyone, I only knew a couple people that had stopped smoking and they were always like kind of putting on a pedestal and glorifying it. Like, oh, I miss it every day and I wish I could, but I can't. And I thought that was pretty miserable. I was like, I don't even want to bother quitting if that's what it's like, you know. So, um, I never knew that I could get to this place that it's just like, like not something I want anymore.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Okay, well, you know, I guess while you were doing it, you know, you, you got a lot of college education. So kind of let the listeners know about your, your college education and how you've grown.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Yeah, I mean it was a good thing. I'm glad I did it. But it was really a lot of stress and anxiety for me and trying to fit in with that kind of culture of like just, you know, working yourself to death. The competition just was a little bit much for me and I feel like I didn't really get the lessons I appreciate most in life and the actual classroom. It was outside of that. Like I uh, I didn't know how to cook when I went to college. I didn't even know how to fry an egg.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And luckily I had friends that helped me and support me with that. So that was like the real thing that I got the most out of college was just learning how to take care of myself because uh, I didn't have the best setup for that.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Okay, well you're also an author. So tell us about your book. Tell us where we can get your book and what readers can expect when they read it.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Yeah, so, um, like I, like I said, my life has just kind of opened up. I've been shine and trying to be my best self. Trying every day to learn more, to go deeper with, uh, my self care and my understanding of, you know, my place in the world and the way I can connect to other people. And I had a daughter and it's just been amazing being uh, able to see how great life can be. Like she just is so m. Just amazed by everything and just such. So genuine and authentic. And it kind of like made me take a look at how I can kind of look at the world anew. And I just started getting creative um, again. Like I hadn't in a long time because I've been so scientific and rigid and was able to tap into that creativity of writing. And I used to love to write when I was young and started writing again. And the thing that kept coming up was my addictions, like what I had been through, like kind of seeing different ways to look at it, see kind of the struggle of something beautiful and meaningful. And decided to write a book. And so I wrote a book. It's called honor your heart.

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> Jessie Hardnett>It's not a memoir. It's kind of a guide using the ideas and the practices that helped me develop the self worth, uh, that I needed to actually want to smoke and then stick with that and kind of learn how to emotionally regulate. Because I had become so dependent on smoking to calm me whenever I had unwanted uh, feelings. And so coming to terms with my feelings and being able to regulate and to accept them and take care of myself, um, I write all that stuff in this Book, but it's a really short book. It's, you know, it just takes maybe a couple hours to go through. You can go as deep as you want to with it. Um, definitely can spend more time going through the practices, but I just kind of wanted to share the ideas and information that worked for me.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Kind of like writing to a younger version of myself, like, what I wish I had known earlier.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And, um, you can find my book.

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> Jessie Hardnett>It's@honoryourheart.net okay.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Speaking of heart, you talk about how you can use your heart, uh, to overcome addiction. So explain to listeners what you mean by that. And for somebody out there that might be struggling with addiction, how they can also use their heart to overcome addiction.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Oh, yeah, that part is key. Thanks for. For bringing that up because, yeah, I was always trying to reason, uh, my way out of smoking and, uh, kind of, like, set these rules for myself, but then I would end up, like, out rationalizing it and, like, it seems ridiculous, but I always find some excuse or some, like, workaround from these little rules that I had made and.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And kind of just getting lost in my head with, uh, the stress, the anxiety, like, getting caught on repetitive thoughts, like, over and over again, like, oh, I got to do this thing, or I'm not good enough. I'm scared to do that. Or any kind of, like, things like that where it's just, like, these repetitive thoughts. It's very unhelpful. So I learned through practicing a little bit of meditation, uh, that you can kind of calm m that noise a little bit. Like, I don't. I don't have the ability to ever make it fully go away. But I kind of just stopped giving it the center of my attention. It's like, okay, the mind's going to do what the mind's going to do, like, stop putting, um, like, feelings to it, like, oh, that's a bad thought, or I need, you know, any kind of, like, thing. You kind of just like, tune out to the thoughts and then tune into your heart, because in your heart is like that calm, steady center, and it knows exactly what you need to do with confidence.

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> Jessie Hardnett>It's. It's called intuition. And I was ignoring it most of my life because I was following the. The plan that other people were laying out for me, the expectations. And I wasn't really listening to what I wanted in life and what I knew was right. And since I've tapped into my intuition, like, it's. It's kind of difficult to describe, but you just kind of get a feeling once you practice it. It can be hard at first, and sometimes I still have doubt, but once you start to practice it, it really can change your life because you, you just have a feeling in your body when something's right, and it makes life less overwhelming because we have so much information coming at us, the brain can't even process it all. With all the Internet and everybody has an opinion. You can look up something and you're looking at the exact opposite.

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> Jessie Hardnett>One person says yes, the other person says absolutely no.

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> Jessie Hardnett>But if you can follow to that heart, that heart kind of guides you to what is going to be in your best interest and what's for the highest good.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And the heart, it also allows us to have compassion where we are able to relate to others and then like, kind of forgive ourselves and have mercy for ourselves for the mistakes we make and still show up and show that, that love that everyone deserves, not only for, you know, the people in our lives, maybe some of them are harder to love than others, but like, for ourselves.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>All. Uh, right, well, tell us about any upcoming projects that you're working on that listeners need to be aware of.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Right now I'm just putting everything I have getting, uh, this book out to people. But I am on social media, do little, uh, content reels for people and I get engagement on there. And it's always great for me to hear from people and interact with people. So that's where I'm at right now. Um, I'm on TikTok and Instagram and YouTube. So you can just look up, honor your heart and find me.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>So the honor your heart dot net. Is that your, your, uh, website or you have any other contact info?

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> Jessie Hardnett>Yeah, that's my website. Uh, so you can go on there. You'll see all my social media handles there at the bottom. And then, uh, you can also just shoot me an email if you ever want to start looking for support, need some direction. So my email is, uh, Jesse J. S s I@honoryourheart.net okay, we'll close this.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Out with some final thoughts. Maybe if that was something I forgot to talk about, that you would like to touch on any final thoughts you have for the listeners.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Yeah, just, uh, be yourself. It can be the scariest, hardest thing to do. It sounds simple, but it can actually be really scary because you kind of got to put yourself first.

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> Jessie Hardnett>And that's, that's not being selfish because taking care of yourself, that, that just kind of ripples out in the world. Everyone sees that and it inspires other people and it's a way that you can kind of get away from those negative thoughts, those hard feelings that like, are making you want to hurt yourself by smoking. So that can be a, uh, really good place to start, is just trying to get to know yourself and uh, respecting what your true desires are.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>All right, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Honoryourheart.net you are somebody you know can use Jesse's book or or her words of wisdom about addiction. Follow Rate Review Share this episode to as many people as possible.

00:15:49.809 --> 00:16:11.532
> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>Jump on your favorite podcast app. Follow Rate Review Share the show if you have any guests or Suggestion Topics Curtis Jackson 1978 at att.net is the place to send them. Once Again, honor your heart.net thank you for listening and supporting the show And Jesse, thank you for all that you do and thank you for joining me.

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> Jessie Hardnett>Thanks for having me. Great talking with you.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>For more information on the Living the Dream podcast, visit www.djcurveball.com.

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> Curtis Jackson (also known as DJ Curveball)>until next time, stay focused on Living the Dream. Dream.