Morning all, here’s a version of the AA step work and study that I do. This is not the only way to do it, and there are certainly other, better ways to work the steps.
You will need, the Big Book -Alcoholics Anonymous, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, a dictionary, a notebook, pen, highlighters, and a ruler. If you are anything like me, you will also need copious amounts of coffee.
Note: Here’s the method, and again there are many ways to work the steps. I first do the reading, highlighting the passages that make sense or hit me. I underline the words I don’t understand the meaning of, and write their meanings in the margins of the book. If I have any questions, I write them down. I take notes, many many notes on what I am reading. I also mark down correlations I find between the chapters of the book, or between the BB and the 12×12.
In the BB, Step one is found between the front cover and page 44. Read it, do as above. In the 12×12, it’s of course the chapter of step one. Follow the above directions. Write down a complete drinking or using history. Take it section by section. Are you convinced that you are an alcoholic? Go over what you have written and read one more time. Have you left anything out? Write down how your life became unmanageable as your drinking/using progressed. How is it currently unmanageable. Go back over what you wrote. What’s missing. Take a day off after step one, and then talk to your sponsor. Afterwards, go on to the next step.
Step 2 BB 44-57, 567-568, then read the 2nd step in the 12 x 12. Writing, What up till now, has been your Higher Power. Hint, usually it’s the booze and drugs. What exactly is your concept of a Higher Power? Are you willing to believe? Take a day off, and talk to your sponsor. Pray a bit, and introduce yourself to God of your understanding, move on to step 3.
Step 3 BB 58-63, 12 x 12. Writing. What happens when you ‘take control of your life’. Answer the questions out of the BB. Are you willing to turn your will and your life over to the care and direction of God as you understand Him? This is a practice that goes on forever, daily working to turn our will and our lives over to the care and direction of God. Add this to your daily homework. Hugs
AnonymousKnitter 