Odds are stacked against ex-offenders; for starters, the majority were raised in environments and situations where they as children didn't have sufficient means, resources, or parenting. Some didn't develop a healthy idea of self worth; while others weren't taught adequate life skills that are necessary to become a successful, self -sufficient, productive, law abiding member of society. On top of that, collateral consequences from having a record make it even harder for a person to live a normal life. I'm here to encourage, inform, educate, motivate, and inspire offenders at correction facilities, half way houses, rehab facilities, and juvenile detention centers to reach their full potential and reduce recidivism. I outline effective ways to deal with challenges, obstacles, and barriers commonly associated with being an ex-offender. I discuss good habits, mindsets, and behaviors that contribute to success. I stress the importance of personal responsibility, positive thinking, goal setting, and how to properly formulate a plan to achieve those goals.
Mindset
- You are your biggest obstacle
- Your offense doesn't define who you are, you define who you are- Internal messages, conditioning, victimization mindset, shame, and believed biases contribute to failure to succeed- If you think you can do something then you will find a way, if you think you can't then you will find an excuse
- Decision making, habits, and thinking patterns
- Understanding Cause and Effect- Habits and thinking patterns of successful people versus unsuccessful people- Thought process and habits that lead to risky behaviors
- Attitude makes all the difference
- What is attitude and how does it affect your life- Examples of how a negative attitude can cost you an opportunity
Setting Yourself Up For Success
- Understanding the system
- know what relief options are available to you - expungement, CQE, etc- Research your offense and know what barriers are associated with it
- Define success and how important it is to you
- Planning
- Envision what you want- Setting goals- Steps to formulating a doable plan- Staying the course
- Avoiding negative places
- There are ways to avoid the negativity that surrounds you
- Avoid putting yourself in bad situations that you can avoid - hanging around the wrong places, befriending the wrong people, etc.
- Identifying negative and positive people and the risk/rewards of associating with each
- Associating with people people - successful, can uplift you, can teach you something, can give you sound advice, etc.
- Associating with negative people - no stability, can't teach you anything, no good advice to offer, don't care if you make it, etc.
- Simple vs Complicated
- Some people make life complicated by doing too much at once- Simplifying life erases distractions