Favorite Things: The Empowered Wife

*Updated Oct 1, 2025

I've been married 18 years.  Since before I was married I have been reading books on marriage, some of which include: 

- The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands

- The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage

- Fascinating Womanhood (linked version is the best version, as it's unedited)

- Love and Respect 

- The Five Love Languages

- Ask Your Husband

- How We Love

Out of all of them, Dr Laura and Fascinating Womanhood made the biggest, and longest, impact.  

While our marriage was always "good" we still had the same fights over and over.  I was clueless why after so much effort I just couldn't seem to figure out how to change our cyclical patterns. 

When I heard about Empowered Wife, I thought, "Sure. I'm up for another book."  At the time we were at a good place and I didn't expect anything major to happen.  Little did I know what was to come!  

Now, two years later, our marriage is peaceful, joyful, loving, and SAFE for both of us.  I didn't even know I needed safety in my marriage until after I was aware of how we both lacked vulnerability. 

Six Intimacy Skills

The Empowered Wife by Laura Doyle is based on the Six Intimacy Skills, skills she learned from asking women how they had a happy marriage. 

1. Self care (and ladies, it ALWAYS comes back to self-care)

2. Respect

3. Relinquish Control

4. Receive Graciously

5. Vulnerability

6. Express Gratitude

After reading the book I realized I was incredibly controlling.  My poor husband would even ask permission if he could go to the store!  I was also needy, unpleasaeble, and complained quite a bit (versus expressing my true desires). 

Ladies, our husband's number one desire is to make us happy! 

I also learned that as a woman, I am the vision keeper of the family.  My job is to dream and express desires (with zero expectations). 

I really encourage all wives to read the book.  Below I'll share more resources to take this even deeper. 

As Catholic women, our job is to have a marriage that is an example of love and respect.  Change your ways and you will change the world.  I'm happier now than I've ever been before, and it took getting off "his paper" and focusing in on what brings me joy. 

Videos to Help Get You Started

At this point I have filmed various videos to help women understand these Skills better, as well as interviewed Coach Carol and been interviewed!  Here are a few of them: 

Coach Carol Interview (by me)

I was interviewed by Coach Carol

I look forward to hearing about your experiences as well.

Pax Christi,

Laura

More Resources

My private Facebook group for Catholic wives and mothers

Coach Carol (Catholic certified Laura Doyle coach)

- Free Coaching assessment available

Coach Carol's Happy Wife FB Group

Coach Carol's YT channel 

The Empowered Wife podcast (HIGHLY recommend)

Laura Doyle's Free Circle Group (may take 1-2 months to receive signup link so be patient)

The Surrendered Wife (Laura Doyle's first book - short overview of becoming surrendered)

Things Will Get as Good as You Can Stand (Laura Doyle's book on feminine receiving)