The Handbook

The SELF, INC. Life Program™ Handbook cover
The Handbook

The SELF, INC. Life Program™ Handbook

The full guide behind the daily work you’re doing in this app — the Body, Mind, and Spirit framework, with scripture, reflections, and the practices that build lasting capacity.

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A simple yet compelling point-of-view that helps us see we can heal, too.

What’s inside

The Body Department

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Nine principles — healthy food, water, rest, outdoors, exercise and more — anchor the physical foundation of everything else you carry.

The Mind Department

The most mismanaged department. Six principles cover simplicity, positive reprogramming, rejecting negative thinking, meditation, challenging thoughts, and staying present.

The Spirit Department

The head, never the tail. Three principles: commune with God (quiet time, prayer, Bible, fasting), commune with others (worship, fellowship), and surround yourself with healthy people and places.

The Three Ds — first principles

D

Decision

Decide to live your life the way you were designed — your Spirit leading your Mind as your Body follows.

D

Dependence

Depend on God solely to guide, teach, and inspire you — making the right moves as the CEO of SELF, INC.

D

Determination

Be determined to hold fast and refuse to let anything or anyone get in the way of living a spirit-propelled life.

The Five Truths

  1. 1.To be successful, we must see ourselves for what we really are: an extension of God.
  2. 2.Without truly loving ourselves, true mental health recovery will never come into fruition.
  3. 3.True recovery consistently produces things that really matter — love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
  4. 4.We have an adequate amount of time and love to allocate to the areas of our lives that really matter.
  5. 5.Serious introspection and deeper questioning as to how we live is imperative — so we can change what is stealing our time and love.

Department Prayers

The official prayers Athena wrote for each department — read them aloud or make them your own.

Body Prayer

Dearest God, I come before your throne of grace and petition for forgiveness for how I have been taking care of my body. I have allowed bad habits to take hold of me, and my health has suffered. I have compromised my temple and allowed myself to do what I wanted with it. I have not heeded the words that say that we should be good stewards of our bodies. Please give me the strength to do the right things with my body by feeding it healthy foods, getting exercise, and good rest. Help me to do the best I can to remove stressors from my life that take a toll on my body and steal from my overall health. With great boldness, I ask for the strength to break any strongholds the fear may have over my body and cast them out with the strength you give me. Through you, I seek restoration of my body and its health. Through you, I ask for wisdom on how I can take care of my body better so that I have the best chance of living a healthy and long life. Please reveal to me what areas of my life pertaining to my body that I need to change. Help me to educate myself on how to take care of my body and how to keep it healthy. Give me your strength so that I can exhibit self-control. God, you have made my body your temple, and you reside within me. Bless me with your strength and give me the discipline to replace bad habits with good ones, like exercise, getting plenty of sleep, and eating well. The areas of my Body Department that I struggle with the most are ________________. God, please take control over these areas of my life so that they are under your comforting hand. Give me your wisdom so I can be a good steward of my body. My desire is to keep my temple healthy and clean. I want to honor you always with how I treat my body from now on. Thank you, God … In Jesus' name, Amen.

Mind Prayer

God, My mind has been so abused throughout the years. I have corrupted it with negative thoughts, ideas, and false notions about myself, others, you, and the world. Instead of taking the time to take care of my mind and fill it with life-giving thoughts, I chose a broken way. It has been wreaking havoc on my life. I am unable to untangle myself from the battle within my mind. I have been speaking such negative words to myself, which drag me down and make me believe I am not worthy of recovery. Please, help me to change my inner dialogue and shift my perception from fear to love. I want to renew my mind and feed it the truth about myself. My mind is a tool. It is supposed to work for me, not against me. Give me the discernment to recognize negative thoughts as they arise and replace them with your truth. Help me to meditate on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. I choose to reprogram my mind with your Word and reject the lies that have held me captive. I surrender my runaway thoughts to you. I choose to stay present in this moment and not fret over the past or future. Heal my mind, restore my peace, and give me the self-control to guard what enters my thoughts. Thank you, God. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Spirit Prayer

Dear God, I really need your help to get back on track. I have been living my life my way, and it has gotten me nowhere. I know from my past that when I have allowed myself to live a spirit-led life, things have gone well in my life. But I have allowed life to slowly pull me away from you, and I can't hear you. My peace and joy have been stolen, and I don't want to live like this anymore. My mental health has been compromised and has prevented me from doing the things that I want. I want to be happy again. I don't want my life to be compromised anymore. I desire to be so in touch with the spirit-person that I am within, that nothing on the outside of me can move me without my permission. I will not continue being a victim of circumstances or allow others to exploit me, use me, and take advantage of me anymore. I will not allow my past to pollute my peace-of-mind. I am a whole and fantastic spiritual being. I was created to be extraordinary in all that I do. I am moving towards you! I do not care anymore what others throw at me because I have the power to protect myself and to be internally regulated. By doing so, I can avoid situations that can be detrimental to my mental well-being. I realize I am a human being and that I am made up of a body, mind, and spirit that encompasses all things, including my feelings, emotions, and thoughts. When I start heading in the wrong direction, I will heed the voice of my spirit within that cohabitates with your spirit, God, and I will allow myself to be divinely guided. I yearn for the fruit of the spirit like love, joy, peace, and self-control. I will recover with your help and your healing presence. Thank you, God, and in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Questions to Ponder

The handbook ends each department with reflective questions. Sit with one today.

Body
  1. 1.How much of what you fear the most has come true in your life? How much is your doing versus your mental health condition?
  2. 2.Do you feel your mind is a tool, or has your mind made a tool out of you?
  3. 3.If you can change one chronic thought you have had most of your life, what would it be? Now, is that thought based on truth, lies, or a little of both?
Mind
  1. 1.If we do not give our lives over to God, when we have heard from so many that doing that can restore our sanity — why haven't we?
  2. 2.What has been the biggest trigger in your daily life? And when you identify it, why haven't you dealt with it until now?
  3. 3.What part of your life do you instinctively feel you need to make changes to? What can help you make those changes?
Spirit
  1. 1.Are you allowing your Spirit to lead your Mind as your Body follows — or is another department running the show?
  2. 2.Where in your life have you stopped listening for the still, small voice of God?
  3. 3.Who are the people and places you surround yourself with — do they strengthen or deplete your spirit?

SELF, INC. Tools

The handbook describes five simple logs to track progress — three of them built into this app as daily logs, with Body and Food numbers kept in your Health Tracker.

Wake-Up Log

Record the date, time, and notes about your sleep hygiene.

→ Daily Key-Turn

Body Log

Track physical stats and goals — weight, inches, and progress.

→ Body habits

Read/Watch/Listen Log

Monitor what goes into your mind through media and entertainment.

→ Mind habits

Prayer Log

Write down everything you want to ask for but are afraid to say out loud.

→ Spirit habits

Food Log

Note when you get triggered and run to food. Everything matters in recovery.

→ Body habits

The story behind the program

Athena Kabylafkas — Founder

Athena Kabylafkas

Founder, THRIVING In RECOVERY Ministries · Creator of the SELF, INC. Life Program Handbook

Athena’s journey moved from striving, to surviving, and ultimately to thriving. After years of searching for relief with limited success, she charted a new path — one rooted in self-knowledge, self-compassion, and self-advocacy. Through her research, reflection, and personal healing, one truth became clear: every step pointed her toward a power greater than herself — God.

Her work began with NAMI Colorado, where she now serves as Peer Program Director. A certified peer support coach and state trainer, she teaches life skills, facilitates support groups, and has championed mental-health awareness from the Colorado State Capitol to Washington, D.C. — using her voice to break stigma and elevate lived experience.

The program is a faith-based, non-clinical system that can also enhance and integrate with existing mental-health recovery programs — a simple yet compelling alternative to options that are offered to just help us, not heal us.

Recovery is not only possible — it is personal, it is purposeful, and every individual has the strength and the right to advocate for a life of hope, healing, and wholeness.

About Jackie

Jackie, the retreat's eagle

Jackie

Our Host · She was a real bald eagle of Big Bear Valley, California

Jackie was a real bald eagle who nested in the mountains of Big Bear Valley, California. Her patient, unhurried presence is the spirit of this safe space — nothing here is in a hurry, and nothing is asked of you. She opens the door to us, as she rests quietly in each of the three departments.

Who it’s for

  • Anyone in recovery who is tired of surviving and ready to start thriving.
  • Leaders and mentors who want a framework to walk others through faithfully.
  • Believers who want spiritual principles woven into their daily walk towards wholeness.

From the handbook

“So, how do you get started? By closing your eyes for a moment, taking three deep breaths, and relaxing. Envision a key in your hand and a door in front of you. Then, with faith, even if it is the size of a mustard seed, put the key in the lock and turn the knob. You have said yes to claiming the CEO chair of SELF, INC.”

— Athena Kabylafkas, SELF, INC. Life Program Handbook, 2nd ed. (2026)

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Every purchase and gift fuels faith-based mental health recovery resources for anyone seeking help.

Prefer to give directly? Your gift helps keep the SELF, INC. Life Program™ reaching people in crisis.

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THRIVING In RECOVERY Ministries — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 41-3276529). Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

SELF, INC. Life Program™

Keep the framework close

Carry the Handbook with you — read one chapter each morning and let it anchor the daily work in this app.

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