Awakening With Don
For those learning how to stay—one breath, one moment at a time.
If you’d like something like this once a week, I send one short reflection each Sunday morning.
Meet Don
Don Phelps is a former pastor turned Buddhist-informed recovery mentor. After a career in the corporate sector, he entered seminary and spent ten years in ministry within a conservative Christian denomination.
His ministry ended involuntarily due to active alcoholism—a crisis that led to a profound personal transformation. Through recovery, Don underwent a radical spiritual shift and now follows a path rooted in presence, compassion, and Buddhist-inspired mindfulness.
Today, he draws on his lived experience to help others find freedom through honesty, presence, and practical recovery wisdom.
Don is a Recovery Dharma facilitator and Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS).
“I left the church, lost myself, and finally found the path that set me free.”
Real Conversations on Recovery, Identity, and Learning How to Stay
Don speaks from lived experience, not from a script.
His voice comes from the inside out—from years of addiction, deep spiritual unraveling, and the slow, steady work of rebuilding a life. He doesn’t speak in polished soundbites or distant theories. He speaks from experience—with honesty, humility, and heart.
Don weaves storytelling, mindfulness, and Buddhist-inspired recovery principles into every talk—not to perform, but to connect. What he offers isn’t a lecture; it’s a moment of presence.
Whether speaking to a recovery community, treatment setting, conference, retreat, faith community, or mental health organization, Don brings the same approach: honesty, openness, and respect for the people in the room.
