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/
· Dr. Bob’s Method for Finding God’s Will
Dr. Bob’s God’s Will Exercise
Dr. 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 Detroit
Get catalogs for grad school
Get a dog instead
Buy 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.