Father Bill W.

Over thirty years ago an AA archivist gave me a book that changed my life. It’s one of the best descriptions of the Oxford Group program out of which AA would later blossom and grow. Published in 1933 and titled WHAT IS THE OXFORD GROUP? the anonymous author lays out many of the principles and practices that Bill Wilson drew from in writing the Big Book. If you’re ready for a life-changing shift to your program, this series may be for you. The book is available free here: https://stepstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/what_is.pdf Pdf copy of What is the Oxford Group?  https://stepstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/what_is.pdf

Michael T. recovered young and has been sober in AA for many years. But when he discovered AA’s original Pioneer Program things inside him started to change. The Four Absolutes took hold and doing God’s will became the driving force. Art was Michael’s means of expression and science fiction began blending with his 12-Step recovery. In this second episode Michael shares a modern recovery myth titled THE KEY OF WILLINGNESS. It’s an old truth set in modern form. Be sure to watch this episode on YouTube to get the full effect. Show notes: The Key of Willingness “Comic Book Myth” Contact Michael:  mct756@gmail.com

Michael T. recovered young and has stayed sober in AA for many years. But when he discovered AA’s original Pioneer Program things inside him began to change. The Four Absolutes took hold and doing God’s will in the world became a driving force. Art became Michael’s means of expression and science fiction began blending with his 12-Step recovery. In this first episode Michael shares his recovery story. He explains how a modern myth found expression in what the Big Book terms, “the fourth dimension of existence.” Buckle your seat belts and come along for the ride! Show Notes:  Silently Seduced by Dr. Kenneth Adams When He’s Married to Mom by Dr. Kenneth Adams Contact Michael:  mct756@gmail.com 

In modern society it appears that many men – and not a few women – are seriously and dangerously out of touch with their emotions. Opportunities abound to isolate and to self-medicate.  When we begin recovery many of us find ourselves emotionally vulnerable and often immature. This series focuses on why this is and offers methods and exercises for connecting with and caring for our emotional selves.  Father Bill continues interviewing therapist Laura Jones Swann, author of Men and Emotions … It’s a Thing. Laura’s worked extensively in the recovery field teaching at several Texas universities. She serves as the guide to a topic that’s relevant both to men and women alike. In this final episode men who’ve found emotional recovery share their powerful stories.  Show Notes: Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing by Laura Swann, MEd. LCDC  You can contact Laura at menandemotionsbook@gmail.com 

In modern society it appears that many men – and not a few women – are seriously and dangerously out of touch with their emotions. Opportunities abound to isolate and to self-medicate.  When we addicts and alcoholics begin recovery many of us find ourselves emotionally vulnerable and often immature. This series focuses on why this is and offers methods and exercises for connecting with and caring for our emotional selves. Father Bill continues interviewing therapist Laura Jones Swann, author of Men and Emotions … It’s a Thing. Laura’s worked extensively in the recovery field teaching at several Texas universities. She serves as the guide to a topic that’s relevant both to men and women alike. In this second-to-last episode, Laura reviews the second half of her strategy list to help support a healthy emotional life.   Show Notes: Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing by Laura Swann, MEd. LCDC https://www.amazon.com/Emotions-Thing-Laura-Jones-Swann/dp/B0CW3T4JMT   Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman:  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+goleman+emotional&hvadid=692815657814&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028223&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15016485746960485602&hvtargid=kwd-314849247096&hydadcr=15524_13558553&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_28uy2uf8ah_e   Other Book Recommendations: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._GDfd8RInPzGpyGqcpefe-0u81RUNAoCRYN-Rfmme_wMCM9TpPxxTivWEPib2tbwvGHGgfhkYatH7Pjgxq8a070KsMS44ycnM_eB3I8n_iOSShcPCFM0cvRFXFhSdPWI_8gky1SpuBDeU5RcCjmnwBmrY4R0e8Q9F_lxoL0UaHrRYHTjLkOLN8tPVEghzR3aMtVLJlOdnghsbmClHzC6nA55eW7hZTFcOW_2_n-k3v0.blzBeyMeWOkwILqgJP-ay-baeYa49V9eaaoEUdY2M3M&dib_tag=se&hvadid=580689605212&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028223&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6257331460669020339&hvtargid=kwd-1410515536440&hydadcr=16287_13419214&keywords=the+body+keeps+the+score.&qid=1733164914&sr=8-1   A New Pair of Glasses by Chuck C. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=a+new+pair+of+glasses&hvadid=598729310159&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028223&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1228835370073832348&hvtargid=kwd-577700975&hydadcr=22561_13531225&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_1eimpz2ddj_e   You can contact Laura at:  menandemotionsbook@gmail.com   Website: www.twowayprayer.org

In modern society many men – and not a few women – are seriously and dangerously out of touch with their emotions. Opportunities abound to isolate and to self-medicate.  When we addicts and alcoholics begin recovery many of us find ourselves emotionally vulnerable and immature. This series focuses on why this is and offers methods and exercises for connecting with and caring for our emotional selves. Father Bill continues interviewing therapist Laura Jones Swann, author of Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing. Laura’s worked extensively in the recovery field teaching at several Texas universities. She serves as the guide to a topic that’s relevant to men and women alike. In this third episode Laura reviews strategies that can help both men and women support a healthy emotional life. It’s divided into a two-parts. Show Notes: Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing by Laura Swann, MEd. LCDC You can contact Laura at menandemotionsbook@gmail.com

In modern society many men – and not a few women – are seriously and dangerously out of touch with their emotions. Opportunities abound to isolate and to self-medicate.  When an addict or an alcoholic begins recovery many of us find ourselves emotionally vulnerable and immature. This series focuses on some reasons for this and offers methods and exercises for connecting with and caring for our emotional selves.  Father Bill interviews therapist Laura Jones Swann, author of Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing. Laura has worked extensively in the recovery field  teaching at several Texas universities. She’ll serve as the guide to a topic that’s relevant to men and women alike.  In this second episode Laura takes a deep dive into the emotional life of men: the unique challenges men face, the emotional inner- landscape of our lives, and Nine Principles for Connecting to and Caring for the Emotional Self.   Show Notes: Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing by Laura Swann, MEd. LCDC  Daniel Goldman: Emotional Intelligence Emotions and Feelings Chart: Practices-FeelingsSensations.pdf You can contact Laura menandemotionsbook@gmail.com 

In modern society many men – and not a few women – are seriously and dangerously out of touch with their emotions. Opportunities abound to isolate and to self-medicate. When an addict or an alcoholic begins recovery  many of us find ourselves emotionally vulnerable and emotionally immature. This series focuses on some reasons this comes about and offers methods and exercises for connecting with and caring for our emotional selves. Father Bill interviews therapist Laura Jones Swann, author of Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing. Laura has worked extensively in the recovery field for many years teaching at several Texas universities. She’ll serve as the guide to a topic that’s relevant to men and women alike. In the first episode Laura introduces herself, talks about her own recovery, shares how she became interested in deeper emotional work, and suggests how her book can be of help to readers wanting to grow in emotional maturity. Hope you'll come along!  Show Notes: Men and Emotions: It’s a Thing by Laura Jones Swann, MEd. LCDC You can contact Laura at menandemotionsbook@gmail.com

Fr. Bill interviews Jungian analyst and author of The War of the Gods in Addiction David Schoen. The conversation centers on the underlying, and often overlooked, psychic elements uniquely present in addiction and the 12-Step pathway that seems specifically designed to overcome them. Show Notes: The War of the Gods in Addiction Copy of the Letters Between Wilson and Jung

A book I’ve often returned to over and over is Thomas R. Kelly’s  A Testament of Devotion. Kelly was a Quaker and a mystic. His book centers on what the Big Book calls “the Great Reality within.” Since it’s a Greater Reality we can never fully understand it – but we can certainly experience it – and mystics like Kelly come as close as humans can come to describing what such an experience - and still more – what a such relationship is like. In this final episode Fr. Bill goes further into Kelly’s chapter: The Simplification of Life. Kelly’s advice to a group of Quakers has a great deal to offer a group of drunks and addicts in following Dr. Bob’s advice to KEEP IT SIMPLE! Show Notes: A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly