Episode 11: Transforming Addiction: Unveiling Spiritual Paths to Recovery with Peg O’Connor’s “Higher and Friendly Powers”

Spiritual But Not Religious

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Dive into the profound intersections of addiction, spirituality, and recovery. Join me as I explore the transformative journey outlined in Peg O'Connor's book, Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering. Throughout this book, Peg draws inspiration from the wisdom of spiritual researcher, philosopher, lecturer, and author William James. From the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous to the power of spiritual awakening, discover how embracing positivity and gratitude can pave the way to a life of fulfillment and recovery.
For more information on Peg O'Connor, William James, and Alcoholics Anonymous, explore the following links:

• https://gustavus.edu/profiles/poconnor (faculty bio of Dr. O'Connor on the Gustavus Adolphus College website)
• https://pegoconnorauthor.com/ (Peg's author website)
• https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/621 (link to the e-book for The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature by William James on Project Gutenberg)
• https://www.aa.org/ (Alcoholics Anonymous website)

Find SBNR episodes and more on the Spiritual But Not Religious Website and connect with me on Mastodon and YouTube!

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1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Overview (00:00:21)

3. Things I learned while reading this book (00:00:36)

4. Chapter 1: overview (00:01:24)

5. Chapter 1: James's concept of "habitual center of personal energy" (00:02:02)

6. Chapter 1: James's concept of "world sickness" (00:02:14)

7. Chapter 1: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) (00:02:32)

8. Chapter 1: steering towards a more positive life experience (00:03:08)

9. Chapter 1: difference between "religious" and "spiritual"—seeking something More (00:03:40)

10. Chapter 1: the possibility of a spiritual transformation (00:04:21)

11. Chapter 1: "overbeliefs" (00:04:41)

12. Chapter 2: the life of William James (00:05:57)

13. Chapters 3 and 4: "the healthy minded" and "the sick souls" (00:06:24)

14. Chapter 3: the power of letting go of fear (00:07:19)

15. The final chapters: the process of conversion (00:08:07)

16. "Is Life Worth Living?" (00:09:27)

17. Appendices (00:10:07)

18. Thanks (00:10:37)