Recovering with Jennifer Dawn Watts

In this, the final episode of this season, Jennifer and Dan get really honest about the ways in which recovery remains a struggle in their own lives. They share some of the things they have a hard time overcoming, as well as some of the practices they use to re-center and re-focus on their own recovery.

Is Hell real? If so, who goes there, and for how long? If not, then what is on the other side of this life? In this episode, Jennifer and Dan dive deep into their contrasting ideas around Hell and what happens after we die.

In this episode, Jennifer and Dan discuss vulnerability; what it makes it so difficult, and what makes it so deeply rewarding. The explore the fear that comes with risking vulnerability, and open up about more vulnerable parts of their own respective stories.

In this episode, Jennifer and Dan explore darkness and evil as concepts, whether literal or metaphorical, and how they manifest in our lives. They also share spiritual disciplines and practices that have been useful in their own lives in relationship with the darkness.

Host, Jennifer Dawn Watts kicks off her third season with the first in a series of conversations alongside her friend: leadership coach and soul guide, Dan Hines. In this episode, Jennifer and Dan spend a little time catching up on what's been happening over the last several months of pandemic life, then dive deep into the similarities and differences in their respective theological worldviews, so as to provide context for the rest of their upcoming conversations. Who is Jesus, really? Is the Bible authoritative, or not? What does it mean to identify as a Christian, even if that doesn't look exactly the same for you as it does for others?

In this episode we discuss how recovery can help with resentments.   What do we do when people are pissing us off?   Is there any way THROUGH it besides just acknowledging our anger?   Big Book of AA section read during this episode:  https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_bigbook_chapt5.pdf p. 66 & 67  

A surprising revelation I had about loneliness.    Links to resources mentioned: “Good Morning” - Chamillionaire  “Intimacy is our oxygen” - Deeper Dating by Ken Page “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it.” - The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck  The Gift of Being Yourself by Dr. David Benner  “The soul does not attach nor does it hate; it desires and loves and it lets go.” - Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr  Overeaters Anonymous for in person, online or telephone meetings: oa.org Check with your telephone company as some “free conference calls” have a chargeback. If they do, use Skype :)

Is everything really spiritual? Does everything in your life story belong: Your parents? Your history? Your successes AND your crashes? Rob Bell has toured with Oprah, written NYT bestsellers and was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. He also fell apart on his office floor, learned about therapy and in this book writes his WHOLE biography with the goal of owning every square inch of his life.   Recovering is about getting real and connecting with Goodness, and Everything is Spiritual is a story about both.

Welcome back to Season 2 of Recovering! It’s easy to hide behind the role of interviewer so in this episode I switch chairs. If I’m going to preach real, it’s good to practice too. I asked my friend Dan Hines (from episode 6, Learning to Listen) to do the interview, and we discuss what role others who listen to us have in our own development, what’s currently holding me back from being my true self, my fears, sexuality and more…

Are you a good listener? How can we create open and safe spaces to hear one another - rather than fixing, saving or advising. What is an open, honest question? My friend Dan Hines happened to be in my city right after I mentioned him in a previous episode so I took him up on the opportunity to hang out and brought my gear to record a conversation. Dan’s retreats are one of the only other spaces, apart from 12 Step recovery, that I've experienced similar levels of honesty and safety in a group gathering. What is unique about these Circles of Trust (through Parker Palmer’s teaching and the Centre for Courage and Renewal) is that they can include a time of discernment for group members where others participate in helping the member discern. Especially in times like these we could all benefit from learning to really listen to one another, being present to their experience, and helping each other to tap into our inner wisdom and Guide.   For more information on the Circles of Trust Approach go to http://www.couragerenewal.org/approach/ and to connect with Dan Hines go to http://www.danhines.ca or https://www.facebook.com/dan.hines.927