12
STEP GUIDE
|
Steps: |
Task: |
Get You Right With |
| 1,2,3. | Build spiritual foundation | |
| 4, 5, 6, 7 | Inventory steps | Yourself |
| 8, 9 | Amends steps | The world |
| 10, 11, 12 | Spiritual growth steps | |
Three Keys To Success
A sobriety date - A sponsor - A home group
The problem is powerlessness over alcohol
The necessary action is work the steps
As a
newcomer, it is wise to listen for similarities between you and those speaking
or sharing in meetings. It is in
the meetings where you can find solutions for problems, an ideal sponsor, and
support in your recovery. Many of
us have difficulty in social situations when we first enter recovery.
So, if nothing else, your social skills and understanding of people can
improve with attending meetings.
But no matter what stage you’re at, your experience may help another recovering
alcoholic/addict. It helps to build
a network of those serious about their recovery – a family, if you will, in
which each can help the other.
In the Big Book of AA, nothing is said about a sponsor.
The Big Book does describe, however, “one alcoholic working with another”
– and that is the foundation of AA.
Nowadays, a sponsor is someone who guides you through the steps – someone who
has been where you are now and can help you get where you want to be: someone
who has done the 12 Steps, who has significantly more time, and is serious about
the program of recovery.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Write an autobiography from birth until now, as detailed as possible, omitting
nothing. Try to remember and write
down all you can. It is well worth
it.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
When ready, recite the 3rd step prayer on page 63.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Make four columns on one sheet of paper as shown below.
Going from left to right, fill in the information for each resentment.
Exclude nothing and no one.
|
I’m Resentful at |
The Cause |
Affects My |
My Part |
|
Name |
What he/she did |
Security, personal relations, or sex relations self-esteem |
What I did to instigate it or how I reacted badly |
STEP 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human
being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Take your fourth step and read it in its entirety to your sponsor.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Look over your 4th and 5th steps.
Write down and review your character defects and decide whether or not you are
ready to be rid of them all.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Ask your Higher Power to remove your character defects.
A good example of what to say is the 7th step prayer on page
76.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Use
your fourth step and build on it with any newly remembered people or
organizations that you have harmed.
Write an amends letter to each of them.
Read your amends letters to your sponsor (or other trusted person,
preferably in the program). Your
sponsor can help you decided which of them should not be delivered for the
safety of either you or the recipient.
STEP 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible,
except when to do so would injure them or others.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Read your amends letters to their recipients and mail them to those that you
cannot deliver in person.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Do a written nightly inventory reviewing your actions and to whom you may owe an
amends. This is also a good place
to review what you have done for others.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task:
Get into the habit of saying a morning and bedtime prayer like those outlined on
page 86.
Write:
Reflect on what you read.
Task: This is where you do what you can to help other alcoholics. This involves but is not limited to a) giving your phone number to those newer than you to the program, b) volunteering/working at a rehab, Alano club or detox, and of course sponsoring. What matters most for this step is that we “work with another alcoholic”, as is said in The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous