Women face unique challenges at the start of their recovery, but still other problems (as well as blessings) lay ahead. Father Bill’s guest is Diane Cameron, author of Out of the Woods: A Woman’s Guide to Long-Term Recovery. Diane addresses issues that include sex, family, work-life balance, the empty nest, caregiving, aging … and many more. In addition to authoring several books, Diane is a journalist, columnist, blogger, and a woman in long-term recovery. Gifted with a sense of humor and a passion for helping women, Diane draws on her long experience in 12-Step recovery to help women traveling on the road of recovery. In this second episode Fr. Bill and Diane discuss some of the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges women face in recovery.Show Notes:Out of the Woods: A Woman’s Guide to Long-Term Recovery· Diane’s website: https://www.dianecameron.info/· The Power of Two Way Prayer· Dr. Bob’s Method for Finding God’s WillDr. Bob’s God’s Will ExerciseDr. Bob Smith, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, gave us this discernment process. It was his response to the question, “How do we know God’s will?”1. Write out the question:“What should I do about….?”“Should I move to xxx or…?” 2. Get quiet and meditate on that question for a few minutes each day in your prayer time. (Note: You have a prayer time.)3. Then, each time, write down everything that comes to mind for your question. (Don’t judge or edit the thoughts, just write them down.): Talk to Susan about…Take a weekend trip to DetroitGet catalogs for grad schoolGet a dog insteadBuy a kayak and go…Borrow the money from my brother… 4. Then slowly examine each idea and ask of each:-Is it pure?-Is it honest?-Is it loving?-Is it unselfish. 5. If the answers are not clear, ask these questions again with your sponsor or close friend.
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1:00:38
Women in Long Term Recovery: What You Need to Know
Women face unique challenges at the start of their recovery, but still other problems as well as blessings lay ahead. Father Bill’s guest is Diane Cameron, author of Out of the Woods: A Woman’s Guide to Long-Term Recovery. Diane addressesissues that include sex, family, work-life balance, the empty nest, caregiving, aging … and many more. In addition to authoring several books, Diane is a journalist, columnist, blogger, and a woman in long-term recovery herself. Gifted with a sense of humor and a passion for helping women, Diane draws on her long experience in 12-Step recovery to help women traveling on the road of recovery. In this first episode Diane shares some of her story and lays out the special challenges her book addresses.Show notes: Out of the Woods: A Woman’s Guide to Long-Term RecoveryWhat Can We Do to Help Our Addicted Communities? Diane’s website: https://www.dianecameron.info/
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51:06
Climbing All the Way
Tom Powers, Jr. grew up in the shadow of Bill Wilson but that didn’t keep him from descending into the pit of his ownalcoholism. To climb out of his illness he needed to find a ladder and climb it as if his life depended on it because it did. In this series, Father Bill interviews Matt D. archivist for All Addicts Anonymous, the 12-Step Fellowship Tom and his father founded to reflect the original and more spirituallygrounded pioneer program. They discuss a 1973 paper Tom wrote titled “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” In this episode they discuss the danger of climbing only partially up the ladder.Show notes: “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” All Addicts Anonymous website: https://alladdictsanonymous.org/
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40:55
Too Damned Smart for Ladder Climbing
Tom Powers, Jr. grew up in the shadow of Bill Wilson but that didn’t keep him from descending into the pit of his ownalcoholism. To climb out of his illness he needed to find a ladder and climb it as if his life depended on it because it did. In this series, Father Bill interviews Matt D. archivist for All Addicts Anonymous, the 12-Step Fellowship Tom and his father founded to reflect the original and more spirituallygrounded pioneer program. They discuss a 1973 paper Tom wrote titled “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” In this episode the danger of being too smart to climb a stupid looking ladder. Show notes: “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” All Addicts Anonymous website: https://alladdictsanonymous.org/
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Some Dangers of Ladder Climbing
Tom Powers, Jr. grew up in the shadow of Bill Wilson but that didn’t keep him from descending into the pit of his own alcoholism. To climb out of his illness he needed to find a ladder and climb it as if his life depended on it because it did. In this series, Father Bill interviews Matt D. archivist for All Addicts Anonymous, the 12-Step Fellowship Tom and his father founded to reflect the original and more spiritually grounded pioneer program. They discuss a 1973 paper Tom wrote titled “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” In this episode some cautions for spiritual ladder climbing are discussed. The paper is available in the show notes below.Show notes:· “The Twelve-Step Ladder to God Consciousness.” S· All Addicts Anonymous website: https://alladdictsanonymous.org/· The Fourth Way by Ouspensky – (Be sure to see the used book selections)· Maurice Nichols: Best book recommended for an introduction to Ouspensky.
I’m an Episcopal (Anglican) priest in recovery from alcoholism since 1972. I've spent my career in addiction treatment focused on 12-Step spirituality and exploring the pioneer history of AA. In discovering the lost 11th Step practice of Two Way Prayer, my program underwent a life-changing transformation. As Bill Wilson said, “ something was lost from AA when we stopped emphasizing the morning meditation." My mission now is helping people in 12-Step Fellowships explore a deeper understanding of spiritual practice and how it connects us to the "Great Reality" within. -Fr. Bill W.
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