Father Bill W.
By Father Bill W.
Father Bill W.Oct 20, 2021
Logotherapy and Recovery: The Meaning of Life and Death
We live in an age when the meaning and purpose of life are often less clear than ever before. An age when we’re asking questions of doctors we should be asking priests - but few priests seem able to provide meaningful answers to today’s spiritual seekers. Enter Viktor Frankl.
Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist whose pioneering work known as Logotherapy has helped millions of suffering men and women begin asking the right questions of life and finding answers that satisfy their souls.
In this series, we explore Frankl’s book The Doctor and the Soul. Fr. Bill’s guest and tour guide is Tom Lavin, a therapist, teacher, and friend who has studied Frankl’s work for years and helped many addicts and alcoholics find new or renewed meaning and purpose in their recovery. This episode explores the existential issues surrounding Life and Death.
Show Notes:
Tom Lavin is a Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He’s served for many years as Adjunct Faculty, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Tom’s website and newsletter can be accessed at: www.easeap.com/
Tom’s LIVE BETTER television series provides tools to help people face and overcome their anxiety and other mental health and addiction issues. Be sure to download the worksheets that go along with the helpful videos. Access here.
https://contextualscience.org/tom_lavin_mft_lcadc_acata_live_better_psychoeducat
Video of Viktor Frankl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlC2OdnhIiQ
Bill Wilson article on Emotional Sobriety:
60 Values to Live by – Choose 3 and get going.
1. Acceptance: to be open to and accepting of myself, others, life etc
2. Adventure: to be adventurous; to actively seek, create, or explore novel or stimulating experiences
3. Assertiveness: to respectfully stand up for my rights and request what I want
4. Authenticity: to be authentic, genuine, real; to be true to myself
5. Beauty: to appreciate, create, nurture or cultivate beauty in myself, others, the environment etc
6. Caring: to be caring towards myself, others, the environment etc
7. Challenge: to keep challenging myself to grow, learn, improve
8. Compassion: to act with kindness towards those who are suffering
9. Connection: to engage fully in whatever I am doing, and be fully present with others
10. Contribution: to contribute, help, assist, or make a positive difference to myself or others
11. Conformity: to be respectful and obedient of rules and obligations
12. Cooperation: to be cooperative and collaborative with others
13. Courage: to be courageous or brave; to persist in the face of fear, threat, or difficulty
14. Creativity: to be creative or innovative
15. Curiosity: to be curious, open-minded and interested; to explore and discover
16. Encouragement: to encourage and reward behaviour that I value in myself or others
Equality: to treat others as equal to myself, and vice-versa
17. Excitement: to seek, create and engage in activities that are exciting, stimulating or thrilling
18. Fairness: to be fair to myself or others
19. Fitness: to maintain or improve my fitness; to look after my physical and mental health and wellbeing
20. Flexibility: to adjust and adapt readily to changing circumstances
21. Freedom: to live freely; to choose how I live and behave, or help others do likewise
22. Friendliness: to be friendly, companionable, or agreeable towards others
23. Forgiveness: to be forgiving towards myself or others
24. Fun: to be fun-loving; to seek, create, and engage in fun-filled activities
25. Generosity: to be generous, sharing and giving, to myself or others
26. Gratitude: to be grateful for and appreciative of the positive aspects of myself, others and life
27. Honesty: to be honest, truthful, and sincere with myself and others
28. Humour: to see and appreciate the humorous side of life
29. Humility: to be humble or modest; to let my achievements speak for themselves
30. Industry: to be industrious, hard-working, dedicated
31. Independence: to be self-supportive, and choose my own way of doing things
32. Intimacy: to open up, reveal, and share myself -- emotionally or physically – in my close personal relationships
33. Justice: to uphold justice and fairness
34. Kindness: to be kind, compassionate, considerate, nurturing or caring towards myself or others
35. Love: to act lovingly or affectionately towards myself or others
36. Mindfulness: to be conscious of, open to, and curious about my here-and-now experience
37. Order: to be orderly and organized
38. Open-mindedness: to think things through, see things from other’s points of view, and weigh evidence fairly.
39. Patience: to wait calmly for what I want
40. Persistence: to continue resolutely, despite problems or difficulties.
41. Pleasure: to create and give pleasure to myself or others
42. Power: to strongly influence or wield authority over others, e.g. taking charge, leading, organizing
43. Reciprocity: to build relationships in which there is a fair balance of giving and taking
44. 45. Respect: to be respectful towards myself or others; to be polite, considerate and show positive regard
45. Responsibility: to be responsible and accountable for my actions
46. Romance: to be romantic; to display and express love or strong affection
47. Safety: to secure, protect, or ensure safety of myself or others
48. Self-awareness: to be aware of my own thoughts, feelings and actions
49. Self-care: to look after my health and wellbeing, and get my needs met
51. Self-development: to keep growing, advancing or improving in knowledge, skills, character, or life experience.
52. Self-control: to act in accordance with my own ideals
53. Sensuality: to create, explore and enjoy experiences that stimulate the five senses
54. Sexuality: to explore or express my sexuality
55. Spirituality: to connect with things bigger than myself
56. Skilfulness: to continually practice and improve my skills, and apply myself fully when using them
57. Supportiveness: to be supportive, helpful, encouraging, and available to myself or others
58. Trust: to be trustworthy; to be loyal, faithful, sincere, and reliable
59. Insert your own unlisted value here:
60. Insert your own unlisted value here: *** Once you’ve marked each value as V, Q, N (Very, Quite, or Not so important), go through all the Vs, and select out the top three that are most important to you in this domain of life, at this point in time. The next step is to start looking at ways to live these values, in this area of life; things you can say and do, guided by these values.
The Doctor and the Soul via Amazon
Lagotherapy and Recovery: The Age of Anxiety
We live in an age when the meaning and purpose of life are often less clear than ever before. An age when we’re asking questions of doctors we should be asking priests - but few priests seem able to provide meaningful answers to today’s spiritual seekers. Enter Viktor Frankl.
Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist whose pioneering work known as Logotherapy has helped millions of suffering men and women begin asking the right questions of life and finding answers that satisfy their souls.
In this series, we explore Frankl’s book The Doctor and the Soul. Fr. Bill’s guest and tour guide is Tom Lavin, a therapist, teacher, and friend who has studied Frankl’s work for years and helped many addicts and alcoholics find new or renewed meaning and purpose in their recovery. This episode explores anxiety, a disease Frankl called “the disease of our time.” Tom explores the subject and suggests how Logotherapy can be of help.
Show Notes:
Tom Lavin is a Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He’s served for many years as Adjunct Faculty, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Tom’s website and newsletter can be accessed at: www.easeap.com/
Tom’s LIVE BETTER television series provides tools to help people face and overcome their anxiety and other mental health and addiction issues. Be sure to download the worksheets that go along with the helpful videos.
https://contextualscience.org/tom_lavin_mft_lcadc_acata_live_better_psychoeducat
Ego and Archetype by Edward Edinger via Amazon (free pdf copies are available online)
The Doctor and the Soul by Viktor Frankl
Frankl Quote:
“ … psychotherapy has given too little attention to the spiritual reality of man.
“For the aim of the psychotherapist should be to bring out the ultimate possibilities of the patient, to realize his latent values, remembering the aphorism of Goethe,
‘… if we take people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat them as if they were what they ought to be, we help them to become what they are capable of becoming.
Logotherapy and Recovery: Going in Search of Soul
We live in an age when the meaning and purpose of life are often less clear than ever before. An age when we’re asking questions of doctors we should be asking priests - but few priests seem able to provide meaningful answers to today’s spiritual seekers. Enter Viktor Frankl.
Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist whose pioneering work known as Logotherapy has helped millions of suffering men and women begin asking the right questions of life and finding answers that satisfy their souls.
In this series, we explore Frankl’s book The Doctor and the Soul. Father Bill’s guest and tour guide is Tom Lavin, a therapist, teacher, and friend who has studied Frankl’s work for years and helped many addicts and alcoholics find new or renewed meaning and purpose in recovery. This episode continues to explore how Logotherapy can shed new light on the path to overcome addiction.
Show Notes:
Tom Lavin is a Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He’s served for many years as Adjunct Faculty, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Tom’s website and newsletter can be accessed at: www.easeap.com/
Logotherapy and Recovery: Who is Viktor Frankle and how can he help me?
We live in an age when the meaning and purpose of life are often less clear than ever before. An age when we’re asking questions of doctors we should be asking priests - but fewer priests seem able to provide meaningful answers to today’s spiritual seekers. Enter Viktor Frankl.
Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist whose pioneering work known as Logotherapy has helped millions of suffering men and women begin asking the right questions of life and finding answers that satisfy their souls.
In this series, we’ll explore Frankl’s book The Doctor and the Soul. Father Bill’s guest and tour guide is Tom Lavin, a therapist, teacher, and friend who has studied Frankl’s work for many years and helped many addicts and alcoholics find new or renewed meaning and purpose in their recovery. This episode introduces Viktor Frankl and his work. It explores how Logotherapy can shed new light on the path to overcome addiction.
Show Notes:
Tom Lavin is a Psychotherapist, Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He’s served for many years as Adjunct Faculty, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Tom’s website and newsletter: www.easeap.com/
https://www.abebooks.com/9780385500364/When-Life-Calls-Out-Love-038550036X/plp
Tom recommended this as a good biography of Frankl’s life: When Life Calls Out to Us: The Love and Lifework of Viktor and Elly Frankl – by Haddon Klinberg, Jr.
Bonus Episode: Fr. Bill Interviewed by Therapist Tom Lavin
Tom will be my guest for an upcoming series focused on the work of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. Serving both as a therapist and university instructor practicing in Reno, Nevada, Tom’s interest in Frankl’s Logotherapy extends back many years and he has a special gift for making Frankl’s work accessible to people in recovery. This recording was an interview we did several years ago when I appeared on Tom’s long-running TV series.
In the upcoming series we’ll be exploring Frankl’s book: The Doctor and the Soul. Enjoy this and be sure to come back for more!
What is Spirituality? AA Under the Microscope
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode concludes the series focusing on how AA brings about spiritual transformation. It concentrates on the difference between religion and spirituality and how AA tries to protect itself from becoming a cult.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
HARVARD STUDY HIGHLIGHTS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
What is Spirituality? When Ego is Awed and Floored
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on Awe and Mystical Illumination –the goal of the 12-Step Journey.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
We Agnostics: How William James, Father of American Psychology, Advanced A Spiritual Solution to Addiction: How a Venerated Harvard Doctor Inspired the 12 Step Movement Paperback – Mr Paul L Schulte
Father Bill W. podcast w guest Paul Schulte AA & William James
Quantum Change: When Epiphanies and Sudden Insights Transform Ordinary Lives 1st Editionby William R. Miller Father Bill W. podcast w guest William Miller
What is Spirituality? Compassion
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on COMPASSION and the role it plays in the spiritual life of a recovering addict.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
What is Spirituality? Forgiveness
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on FORGIVENESS and the role it plays in the spiritual life of a recovering addict.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
If this information has been helpful to you, Like, Subscribe, and consider making a donation to help spread the good news.
What is Spirituality? Recovery and Joy
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on the quality of JOY in the spiritual life of a recovering addict.
If you want to locate and feel JOY in your soul, be sure to watch and listen to the 5-minute YouTube video “Ode to Joy” linked below. “If you can spot it, you got it!”
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
Video: Ode to Joy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJcQYVtZMo
What is Spirituality? Hope for the Hopeless
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination.
The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on the importance of HOPE in the spiritual life of a recovering addict.
Show Notes:
SpiritualEvolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
Harvard Study Hightlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
Anthem by Leonard Cohen: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anthem+leonard+cohen
What is Spirituality? God is Love
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality can be a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in our lives This episode focuses on the meaning and transforming power of LOVE.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant Used Copy Available
HARVARD STUDY HIGHLIGHTS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
References to LOVE in Key AA Literature (Courtesy 164andMore.com):https://www.164andmore.com/words/love.htm
Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians
For more on this topic, check out the Father Bill W. podcast series Inner Gold https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fatherbillw/episodes/Inner-Gold-God-Is-Out-of-the-Box-e1h26f3
What is Spirituality? Faith vs Belief: What's the Difference? A lot!
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION written by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a research psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality is often a hard concept to grasp and his book helps make it understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey. We’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” towards realizing them in ourselves. This episode focuses on the important difference between faith and belief.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
HARVARD STUDY HIGHLIGHTS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
References to “Faith” in Key AA Literature: https://www.164andmore.com/words/faith.htm
Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%27man%27s+search+for+meaning%27&i=stripbooks&hvadid=580696318078&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028223&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1501299473015564863
What is Spirituality? Monkey Mind Ain't All Bad
The series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION written by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a research psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality is a hard concept to grasp, and his book helps make it more understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues we are evolving physically, culturally, and individually. This episode is focused on the geography of the brain and how it sets the stage for the spiritual journey.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George E, Valliant
Harvard Study Highlights https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
Bill Wilson article Emotion Sobriety
“The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety” by Bill Wilson (aainthedesert.org)
What is Spirituality? What an Addict in Recovery Needs to Know
This series explores the book SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION written by Dr. George E. Vaillant. The author was a research psychiatrist at Harvard and served as a non-alcoholic Trustee for Alcoholics Anonymous. Spirituality is a hard concept to grasp and his book helps make it more understandable. He defines spirituality as the realization of positive emotions such as love, hope, faith, joy, forgiveness, and compassion – along with awe and mystical illumination. The author argues our brains are hard wired for these and through the 12 Step journey, we’re evolving – “sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly” to realizing them in ourselves. This should be a powerful series you won’t want to miss.
Show Notes:
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith by George Vaillant
HARVARD STUDY HIGHLIGHTS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
Recovery Gems: Inventory & Beyond
Fr. Bill’s guest is Andy C., a Canadian attorney in recovery since 1977. Andy is the author of “Gems,” a collection of reflections and meditations on insights and practices that can lead to a more meaningful, satisfying, and purposeful recovery. In this final episode, Fr. Bill and Andy explore the practice and benefits of frequent and meaningful inventories using Steps 4 and 10. Show Notes:
Gems: Meditations on Alcoholism and Recovery by Andy C.
Visit Andy at his website: the Fourth Dimension https://the4thdimension.ca/
Recovery Gems: Meeting Ego in the Steps
Fr. Bill’s guest is Andy C., a Canadian attorney in recovery since 1977. Andy is the author of “Gems” a collection of reflections and meditations on insights and practices that can lead to a more meaningful, satisfying, and purposeful recovery. In this third episode, Fr Bill and Andy explore the nature and depth of SELF WILL and how the Steps are used to overcome it. Gems: Meditations on Alcoholism and Recovery by Andy C.
Visit Andy at his website: the Fourth Dimension https://the4thdimension.ca/
Recovery Gems: Emotional Growth
Fr. Bill’s guest is Andy C., a Canadian attorney in recovery since 1977. Andy is the author of “Gems” a collection of reflections and meditations on insights and practices that can lead to a more meaningful, satisfying, and purposeful recovery. In this second episode, Fr Bill and Andy explore serenity and how it’s related to emotional sobriety.
Show Notes:
Gems: Meditations on Alcoholism and Recovery by Andy C.
Visit Andy at his website: the Fourth Dimension https://the4thdimension.ca/
Emotional Sobriety article by Bill Wilson
Recovery Gems: Andy's Story and How to Keep Recovery Fresh
Fr. Bill’s guest is Andy C. an attorney in recovery since 1977 and living in Victoria, Canada. Andy is the author of “Gems” a collection of meditations on the various components and practices that can lead to meaningful, satisfying, and purposeful recovery. In this first episode, Andy shares his recovery story before he and Fr/ Bill dive into Andy’s first chapter distinguishing Long-termers from Old-timers. You’ll discover there’s a world of difference and find a few pitfalls to avoid along the way.
Show Notes:
Gems: Meditations on Alcoholism and Recovery by Andy C.
Visit Andy at his website: The Fourth Dimension
https://the4thdimension.ca/
Spiritual or Religous? Meet Yisrael C. An Orthodox Jew in Recovery
In this classic episode, Fr. Bill visits with Yisrael C. to discuss the age-old question, "Are you spiritual or religous?" The discussion provides perspective and a deeper understanding of what it all means in relationship to recovery.
Yisrael C. has over 40 years in AA journeying from a Catholic kid in Philadelphia to an Orthodox Jew and stand-up comedian in Israel. Balancing tragedy and comedy, he works at the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem and takes great joy helping newcomers find both sobriety and fun in recovery. Here’s a link to his full AA story.
Harry Tiebout AA's First Shrink: How it Really Works
Father Bill continues a series centered on Dr. Harry Tiebout, the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA worked while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout also treated Bill Wilson for his depression and later served as an AA Trustee.
The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes. In this episode Fr. Bill explores Tiebout’s article: Anonymity, the Ego Reducer. This was a talk he delivered in 1955 at the AA World Convention in St. Louis. A free pdf link to Tiebout’s article is available below. Show Notes:
Harry Tiebout AA's First Shrink: Surrender vs. Compliance
Father Bill continues a series centered on Dr. Harry Tiebout, the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA worked while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout also treated Bill Wilson for his depression and later served as an AA Trustee. The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes. In this episode Fr. Bill explores Tiebout’s classic article: Surrender vs Compliance. Tiebout believes compliance gets in the way of surrender but Fr. Bill isn’t so sure. See what you think. A free pdf version of Tiebout’s article is available in the show notes.
Show Notes:
Harry Tiebout AA's First Shrink: Ego Factors in Surrender Pt.1
Father Bill continues a series centered on Dr. Harry Tiebout, the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA worked while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout also treated Bill Wilson for his depression and later served as an AA Trustee. The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes. In this episode Fr. Bill explores Tiebout’s classic article: Ego Factors in Surrender. If you want to know what’s going on when we’re feeling restless, irritable or filled with discontent, you won’t want to miss this episode. A free pdf version is available.
Show Notes:
Harry Tiebout AA's First Shrink: Ego Factors in Surrender Pt.2
Father Bill continues a series centered on Dr. Harry Tiebout, the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA worked while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout also treated Bill Wilson for his depression and later served as an AA Trustee. The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes. In this episode Fr. Bill explores Tiebout’s classic article: Ego Factors in Surrender. If you want to know what’s going on when we’re feeling restless, irritable or filled with discontent, you won’t want to miss this episode. This is Part Two.
Show Notes: Tiebout’s Collected Writings
Ego Factors in Surrender (article)
Harry Tiebout AA's First Shrink: The Act of Surrender
Father Bill continues a series centered on Dr. Harry Tiebout, the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA worked while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout also treated Bill Wilson for his depression and later served as an AA Trustee. The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes. In this episode Fr. Bill explores Tiebout’s 1949 article: The Act of Surrender in the Therapeutic Process. A free pdf version is available.
Show Notes:
Tiebout’s Collected Writings
Tiebout’s article: The Act of Surrender in the Therapeutic Process in pdf
What Is a Psychic Change Podcast Episode – William James
Tiebout Quote: “The dilemma of the alcoholic is now obvious. The unconscious mind rejects, through its capacity for defiance and grandiosity what the conscious mind perceives. Hence, realistically, the individual is frightened by his or her drinking and at the same time is prevented from doing anything about it by the unconscious activity that can and does ignore or override the conscious mind.”
Who Is Harry Tiebout and Why Should I Care?
Father Bill starts a new series centered around Dr. Harry Tiebout. He was the first psychiatrist to recognize why AA was being successful in treating alcoholics while so many other methods (including his own) had failed. Tiebout (pronounced (TEE-BOW) also treated Bill Wilson for his depression. The series uses Hazelden’s book: Harry Tiebout: The Collected Writings as a source and, where available, adds pdf articles in the Show Notes.
Show Notes:
∙ Tiebout’s Collected Writings
∙ Ego Factors in Surrender in Alcoholism
Two Way Prayer: The Book Ep.5 The Fourth Dimension of Recovery
Fr. Bill continues a series highlighting the history and practice of Two Way Prayer as contained in his book expected to be published in the spring of 2024. In this episode he explores meaning of a “psychic change,” a “conversion experience or awakening,” as well as “the fourth dimension of existence.” The episode uses the works of Bill Wilson, William James, and Jungian analyst and author Robert Johnson. If you’ve ever wanted to explore “ego deflation at depth” this episode is for you.
Show Notes:
Quotes from Wilson, James, Edinger and Johnson
William James Podcast Series
Book by Paul S. We Agnostics: How William James, Father of American Psychology, Advanced A Spiritual Solution to Addiction: How a Venerated Harvard Doctor Inspired the 12 Step Movement
Transformation by Robert A. Johnson
Two Way Prayer: The Book Ep.4 The Four Absolutes
Fr. Bill continues a series highlighting the history and practice of Two Way Prayer. In this episode he focuses on the Four Absolutes: Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love. These principles were foundational for Dr. Bob and to many of the AA Pioneers. They’re still emphasized in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio but in few other places. This episode focuses on how they relate to Two Way Prayer.
Show Notes:
Fr. Bill continues a series highlighting the history and practice of Two Way Prayer. In this episode he focuses on the Four Absolutes: Honesty, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love. These principles were foundational for Dr. Bob and to many of the AA Pioneers. They’re still emphasized in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio but in few other places. This episode focuses on how they relate to Two Way Prayer.
Show Notes:
Not God, a History of Alcoholics Anonymous by Ernest Kurt.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
A.J. Russell: For Sinner’s Only
Ivory Soap Commercial: Just want to see if anyone is really reading these things!
Two Way Prayer: The Book Ep.3 How to Do the Practice
Fr. Bill continues a series highlighting the history and practice of Two Way Prayer. In this episode he shares step by step suggestions for a daily practice.
Show Notes:
A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly / Kelly’s first essay: The Light Within makes excellent Quiet Time reading. Here’s a pdf version of this contemplative classic.
Here’s a one-page guide with suggestions for doing the daily practice:
chrome-
Thomas Merton’s Prayer:
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Big Book quote from page 87:
“What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.
Two Way Prayer: The Book Ep.2 From Lost to Found
Fr. Bill continues his focus on Two Way Prayer. In this episode he explores why the AA Pioneer’s connection to the Oxford Group was downplayed in the Big Book and how knowing the history brings the practice alive in the pages devoted to Step Eleven.
Show Notes:
Quotations are from Pass It On: https://www.aa.org/pass-it
Two Way Prayer: The Book Ep.1
Fr. Bill begins a short series focused on a new book he’s writing on Two Way Prayer. This episode gives a brief history of how the prayer practice developed within the Oxford Group and its important place in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous. Fr. Bill draws on several quotations from AA literature telling how the practice was done by some of the early members.
Show Notes:
“Where did we learn about moral inventory, amends for harm done, turning our wills and our lives over to God? Where did we learn about meditation and prayer and all the rest of it? The spiritual substance of our remaining ten Steps came straight from Dr. Bob’s and my own early association with the Oxford Groups….”
Bill Wilson, The Language of the Heart, p. 298.
“The central theme of Wright’s book (The Will of God and a Man’s Life Work) was that an individual could, through “two way prayer” - listening for guidance as well as talking - find God's will for his life and for the ordinary events of the day. Wright himself set aside half an hour for such listening prayer first thing every morning. At such times - and indeed at anytime in the day - he declared that what he called “luminous thoughts” came from God, provided only that the human receiver was clean enough to pick them up. These thoughts Wright wrote down in a notebook and always tried to carry out.
Garth Lean, On the Tail of a Comet, p.74.
More Selections from Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers & Pass It On in this episode.
Unshakable Foundations in Recovery with Tyler D.: Meditation in Recovery
Father Bill continues his interview with recovery teacher and spiritual guide Tyler D. from Dallas, Texas. The series centers on Bill Wilson’s 12 & 12 quote: “There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. … But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakeable foundation for life.” This episode is focused on helping us understand and begin the practice of meditation.
Show Notes:
∙ Contact and information for Tyler D. http://tylerdawn.com/
∙ Prayer of St. Francis
∙ Sharon Salzburg: https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/
∙ Richard Rohr: https://cac.org/about/what-is-contemplation/
∙ Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://jonkabat-zinn.com/
Unshakeable Foundations in Recovery with Tyler D: Prayer in Recovery
Father Bill continues his interview with spiritual recovery teacher and guide Tyler D. from Dallas, Texas. The series builds on the Bill Wilson’s 12 & 12 quote: “There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. … But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakeable foundation for life.” This episode explores various forms of prayer that can help in our recovery as well as make recovery more of the living adventure it can be.
Show Notes:
Contact and information on Tyler D. http://tylerdawn.com/
Unshakable Foundations in Recovery with Tyler D.: Watching: Self Examination
Father Bill continues his interview with spiritual recovery teacher and guide Tyler D. from Dallas, Texas. The series builds on the Bill Wilson’s 12 & 12 quote: “There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation, and prayer. … But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakeable foundation for life.” This episode explores tools for watching ourselves and making Step Ten come to life in new and more meaningful ways.
Show Notes:
Contact and information on Tyler D. http://tylerdawn.com/
Invitation to the Great Experiment by Tom Powers. Purchase a hard copy at www.AllAddictsAnonymous.com/
Nikki Meyers 12 Step Yoga https://y12sr.com/
Unshakeable Foundations in Recovery with Tyler D.: A Foundation Built on Pain
Father Bill begins a series of interviews with spiritual recovery teacher and guide Tyler D. from Dallas, Texas. Long active in 12 Step recovery, Tyler is a registered yoga instructor and mindfulness teacher as well as a recent graduate in Spiritual Direction from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. In this opening episode Tyler shares her story and sets the theme for the series built around the rewards a solid foundation can bring. Tyler genuinely “walks the walk” in 12 Step recovery and invites you to join her on this journey.
Show Notes:
Contact and information for Tyler D. http://tylerdawn.com/
Recovery Writing: Experiencing the Rewards of Writing
In this final episode of the series, Dr. James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing,
leads listeners through a series of writing exercises that include an extended version of “The Conduct Inventory,” a second exercise titled “The Resilient Heart,” and finally a set of questions known as “The Audre Lorde Questionnaire to Oneself.” We hope this series inspires you to pick up your pen and join Dr. Ryan in journeying deeper into the fullness and richness of recovery.
Show Notes:
∙ Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan.
∙ Audrey Lorde’s Four Questions: https://divyavictor.com/the-audre-lorde-questionnaire-to-oneself/
Recovery Writing: Discovery & Healing
Fr. Bill and Dr. James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing finish up their discussion of how writing can be an aid in finding and building a deeper relationship with the Divine.
Show Notes:
∙ Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan.
∙ Step Study website: www.StepStudy.org
Recovery Writing: Finding God in Writing Part 2
Fr. Bill and Dr. James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing finish up their discussion of how writing can be an aid in finding and building a deeper relationship with the Divine.
Show Notes:
∙ Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan
∙ Step Study website: www.StepStudy.org
Recovery Writing: Finding God in Writing
Fr. Bill continues his interviews with James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing. The series explores effective writing techniques used in 12 Step and other recovery modalities. James is in long term recovery with a strong interest in spirituality and in the Pioneer program of Alcoholics Anonymous. His website www.StepStudy.org provides links to books and articles helpful for those ready to go deeper into AA history and recovery spiritually. James worked for several years in the addiction treatment field and now teaches writing at the University of Alaska. In this fourth episode, James shares from his research how writing can aid in connecting an addict with the realm of the divine.
Show Notes:
Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan
Step Study website: www.StepStudy.org
The Voices Within and How We Talk to Ourselves by Charles Fernyhough (Lots of used copies available)
More than Real: A History of the Imagination in South India by David Shulman (Worth reseaching sources – this book is pricey)
Recovery Writing: Rigorous Honesty on Paper
Fr. Bill continues his interviews with James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing. The series explores writing techniques that have proved effective in 12 Step and other recovery modalities. James is in long term recovery with a strong interest in spirituality and in the Pioneer program of Alcoholics Anonymous. His website titled www.StepStudy.org provides links to books and articles helpful for many wanting to go deeper into AA history and recovery spiritually. James worked for several years in the addiction treatment field and now teaches writing at the university level. In this third episode, James begins to explore the four major “take-aways” from his research beginning with “How Writing Helps Us Get Honest.”
Show Notes:
∙ Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan.
∙ Step Study website: www.StepStudy.org
Recovery Writing: Getting Honest on Paper
Fr. Bill interviews James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing. The series explores writing techniques that have proved effective in 12 Step and other recovery modalities. James is in long term recovery with a strong interest in spirituality and in drawing insights from the Pioneer program of Alcoholics Anonymous. His website titled www.StepStudy.org provides links to books and articles helpful for many wanting to delve deeper into AA history and recovery spiritually. Clinically, James worked for several years in the addiction treatment field and now teaches writing at the university level. In this second episode, James continues sharing his recovery story and how it shaped his interest in writing. Focus is on how writing benefits honesty.
Show Notes:
∙ Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps by James Ryan.
∙ Step Study: www.StepStudy.org
Recovery Writing: Desperate Enough to Write
Fr. Bill begins a new series on the benefits of writing in recovery. His guest is James Ryan, PhD author of a new book titled Recovery Writing. The series will explore several writing techniques that have proved effective in 12 Step and other recovery modalities. James is in long term recovery himself with a strong interest in spirituality and in the Pioneer program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Over the years, he’s grown a website titled www.StepStudy.org providing links to books and articles helpful for many wanting to delve deeper into AA history and recovery spiritually. James worked for several years in the addiction treatment field and now teaches writing at the university level. In this first episode, James shares his recovery story and early interest in writing.
Show Notes: Recovery Writing: Discovery and Healing in the Twelve Steps, by James Ryan.
Here's the Book's website: https://www.recoverywriting.org/ (it includes a contact form where people can share their stories about recovery writing practices that are valuable to them)
and The Blog: https://recoverywriting.substack.com/ (where you can find new articles about recovery writing practices that were not covered in the book)
What is the Oxford Group? Part 2
Jean Brown, a life-long member of the Oxford Group (now known as Initiatives of Change) sheds more light on the program and principles that gave birth to Alcoholics Anonymous. In this episode, Jean describes the original Quiet Time and Two Way Prayer practices of the Oxford Group that underlie the 11th Step. Jean is the author of “A Serious Guide to Remaking the World.” A free copy of this informative pamphlet is available in the Show Notes.
Show Notes:
· A Serious Guide to Remaking the World, 2007 - by Jean Brown
· The Listening to God Pamphlet by Chaplain John Batterson
· How to Practice Two Way Prayer
· Initiativesof Change https://iofc.org/en
· If this episode has been helpful to you, please share and consider making a donation.
What is the Oxford Group: Part 1
Jean Brown from Adelaide, Australia traces her life-long connection to the Oxford Group back for three generations. The Group later became known as Moral Rearmament and still operates as Initiatives of Change. In this two-part interview, Jean shares her personal story of change while shedding light on the original principles and practices that gave birth to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Jean is the author of “A Serious Guide to Remaking the World.” A free copy of this informative pamphlet is available below.
Show Notes:
· A Serious Guide to Remaking the World, 2007 - by Jean Brown
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: Experiencing the Now
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California leads Fr. Bill and listeners through a series of brief meditations focused on the teachings of Eckhart Tolle. Several one-minute exercises bring the teachings alive in ways you won’t want to miss. A guide to the exercises is included in the Show Notes.
Show Notes:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - Purchase or find an online pdf version available free.
Contact Dr. Bruce at: powerofnowtherapist@gmail.com
Power of Now Lab Notes from Dr. Bruce
Overview:
(1) The Purpose of these Practices
(2) The Obstacles to Practice
(3) The Benefits of the Practices
(4) The Duration and Use of These Practices in Daily Life
One-Minute Thoughtless Awareness Practices
(1) Observing the Breath without thought
(2) Observing an Inner Body Sensation without thought
(3) Listening without thought
(4) Seeing without thought
Self Observation Practices
“Am I at ease?”
“Am I treating this moment as a means to an end?”
“Have I been thinking of the future or the past?”
“Am I wanting to be somewhere other than Where I am now?”
The Welcoming Prayer for Presence: Request a copy from Dr. Bruce
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: Painful Emotions Healed in the Now
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California helps relate the works of Eckhart Tolle with the world of 12-Step recovery. Negative emotions are problems for many people but perhaps especially for addicts. AA co-founder Bill Wilson struggled with depression for many years after getting sober. His letter sharing his experience on the subject is in the Show Notes. Dr. Bruce explores the troubling world of emotions offering us a solution to our pain through accessing the Power of Now.
Show Notes:
Bill Wilson’s 1953 letter on Emotional Sobriety
Eckhart Tolle Key Quotes on Emotions:
- Pain is inevitable as long as you are identified with your mind. I am talking here primarily of emotional pain…Resentment, hatred, self-pity guilt, anger, depression, jealousy, and so on, even the slightest irritation, are all forms of pain.
- There are two levels to your pain: the pain you create now and the pain from the past that still lives on in your mind and body.
- As long as you are unable to access the power of the Now, every emotional pain that you experience leaves behind a residue of past pain that lives on in you. It merges with the pain from the past, which was already there, and becomes lodged in your mind and body. This includes the pain you suffered as a child, caused by the unconsciousness of the world into which you were born. This accumulated pain is a negative energy field that occupies your mind and body.
- The emotional pain-body has two modes of being: dormant and active. It may be dormant 90 percent of the time. In a deeply unhappy person it can be active 10 percent of the time. Some people only experience it in certain situations such as intimate relationships, or situations linked with past loss or abandonment, physical or emotional hurt, and so on.
- Anything can trigger it, particularly if it resonates with a pain pattern from your past…even a thought or an innocent remark made by someone close to you can activate it.
- Some pain bodies are obnoxious but relatively harmless, like a child who won’t stop whining. Others are vicious and destructive monsters. Some are physically violent, many more are emotionally violent. Some will attack people around you or close to you, while others may attack you, their host.
- Thoughts and feelings you have about your life then become deeply negative and self-destructive.
- The pain-body doesn’t want you to observe it directly and see it for what it is. The moment you observe the pain-body, feel its energy within you, and take your attention into it, the identification is broken. A higher dimension of consciousness has come in, I call it Presence. You are now the witness or the watcher of the pain-body. You have found your innermost strength.
- Watch out for any sign of unhappiness in whatever form---it may be the awakening pain body. This can take the form of irritation, impatience, a somber mood, a desire to hurt, anger, rage, a need to have some drama in your relationship and so on. Catch it the moment it awakens from its dormant state.
- Focus attention on the feeling inside you. Know that it is the pain-body. Accept that is there. Don’t think about it--don't let the feeling turn into thinking. Don’t judge or analyze. Stay present and continue to be the observer of what is happening inside you. Allow the pain to be transmuted into peace.
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: Relationships Grounded in Now
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California helps blend the works of Eckhart Tolle with the world of 12-Step recovery. Addicts aren’t alone in struggling with relationships. Often, we search for and marry a prince or a princess thinking they’ll save us only to see them before long turn into a frog – and sometimes even worse. Dr. Bruce explores the world of relationships offering us a way out through the Power of Now.
Show Notes
Eckhart Tolle Relationship Quotes:
- Unless and until you access the frequency of presence, all relationships, and particularly intimate relationships, are deeply flawed and dysfunctional.
- They may seem perfect for a while, such as when you are “in love” but invariably that apparent perfection gets disrupted as arguments, conflicts, dissatisfaction and emotional or even physical violence occur with increasing frequency Love can turn into savage attack, feelings of hostility, of complete withdrawal of affection at the flick of a switch. And this is considered normal.
- Relationships do not cause pain and unhappiness. They bring out the pain and unhappiness that is already in you. We use relationships or somebody to cover up our pain.
- For love to flourish, the light of your presence needs to be strong enough so that you no longer get taken over by the thinker or emotional pain body and mistake them for who you are.
- Can you change an addictive relationship into a true one? Yes, by intensifying your presence by taking your attention more deeply into the Now.
- The greatest catalyst for change in a relationship is complete acceptance of your partner as he or she is, without needing to judge or change them in any way.
- For presence to become deeply rooted, it must be tested in the fire of relationships.
- Listening is the greatest thing you can do for your partner. Listening gives the other space to be.
- Love as a continuous state is as yet very rare---as rare as conscious human beings. Brief and elusive glimpses of love, however, are possible, whenever there is a gap in the stream of mind.
- Never before have relationships been as problematic and conflict-ridden as they are now. If you continue to pursue the goal of salvation through a relationship, you will be disillusioned again and again. But if you accept that the relationship is here to make you conscious instead of happy, then the relationship will offer you salvation, and you will be aligning yourself with the higher consciousness that wants to be born in this world.
Self Disclosure reference: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/sociology-and-social-reform/sociology-general-terms-and-concepts/self-disclosure
Your Body Doesn’t Lie by John Diamond (pdf version)
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: In Step Two We Meet the Now
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California helps blend the works of Eckhart Tolle with the world of 12-Step recovery. Many addicts struggle to find a concept of a Higher Power that can work successfully for them. Step Two becomes easier when an elusive search for “a Power greater than ourselves” shifts to “accessing the Power of Now.” In this episode Dr. Bruce describes how the terms God and Now may be synonymous and how a simple shift in consciousness into the “fourth dimension of existence” may be more easily accessible than you THINK. In fact, not THINKING might speed things up considerably!
Show Notes:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle / You may also be able to find free pdf versions online.
Contact Dr. Bruce at: powerofnowtherapist@gmail.com
Be sure to visit us our YouTube Channel: Two Way Prayer @twowayprayer1335 – episodes generally post within a couple days following the podcast. You can meet Father Bill’s dog Maggie around minute 56 or so.
Here are the Tolle quotes used on this episode:
1. “The eternal present is the space within which your whole life unfolds. The Now is the only point that can take you beyond the limited confines of your mind. It is your only point of access into the timeless presence of God.”
2. “(When) the realm of Being, accessed through the portal of the Now, opens up, suddenly, a great stillness arises within you, an unfathomable peace. And within that peace, there is great joy. And within that joy, there is love. And at the innermost core, there is the Sacred, that which cannot be named.”
3. “As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out of present moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love---even the most simple action.”
4. “When the compulsive striving away from the Now ceases, the joy of Being flows into everything you do. The moment your attention turns to the Now, you feel a presence, a stillness, a peace.” But the reverse is also true – is it not? – that when my compulsive thinking takes charge again and leads me away from the Now then I lose my connection with the Present Moment and I begin to feel restless, irritable, and discontent.
5. “An amazing realization is that in the present moment there is only what is, but there are no problems. And if your attention remains in the Now, you no longer inhabit a world of problems.”
6. “Being is accessible to you NOW as your own deepest self, your true nature. But don’t seek to grasp it with your mind. Don’t try to understand it. You can only know it when the mind is still. When you are present, when your attention is fully and intensely in the NOW, Being / (God) can be felt, but it can never be understood mentally.”
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: The Problem's in the Mind
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California helps blend the works of Eckhart Tolle with the world of 12-Step recovery. The Big Book tells us our “problem is in the Mind.” This episode takes a deep dive into the source of our compulsive thinking, first as it relates directly to physical addiction, but then as it traps us in a fearful state of separateness from God, from others, and from our True Selves. The Good News is escape is possible. Listen and start to find out HOW!
3 Quotes Related to THINKING from Eckhart Tolle that relates to "Unmanageable" thoughts and addiction:
- I would say about 80-90% of most people's thinking is not only repetitive and useless, but beacuase of its dysfunctional and negative nature, much of it is harmful. Observe your mind and you will find this to be true.
- This kind of cumpulsive thinking as actually an addiction. What characterizes an addiction? Quite simply this: you no longer feel nyou have the ability to stop.
- Every addiction arises from an unconscious refusal to face and move through your own pain. Every addiction atarts with pain and ends with pain. Whatever you're addicted to (includes all involuntary compulsive mental-emotional habits and reactive patterns) you are using to cover up your pain.
Unmanageable (compulsive) thoughts related to everything else:
- The more you are identified with your thinking, your likes and dislikes, judgments and interpretations, which is to say the less present your are as the wathching consciusness, the stronger the emotional charge (pain) will be whether you are aware of it or not.
- The greatest obstacle to experiencing peace and the radiant joy of being is identification with your mind, which causes thought to become compulsive. Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction... this incessant mental noise prevents you from finding the realm of inner stillness, peace, and joy.
- The compulsive thinker, which means almost everyone, lives in a state of separateness, in an insanely complex world of continuous problems and conflict. Read more...
The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle.
If you would like to contact Dr. Bruce he can be reached by email.
If this information has been helpful to you consider making a donation to Two Way Prayer. Be sure to like, subscribe and share with others who could benefit from this message!
#Recovery, #KeepComingBack, #TwoWayPrayer
Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now: Introduction
Psychologist Dr. Bruce P. from Los Angeles, California helps blend the works of Eckhart Tolle with the world of 12 Step recovery. Like the Big Book, The Power of Now has helped millions access the transforming Power for change that is already present in each of us only waiting to be unleashed. Come join us on the journey!
Show Notes:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle / The llink will take you to Amazon but note there are pdf versions available online free.
Questions for Dr. Bruce P.? powerofnowtherapist@gmail.com