STEPS

1 Essential 12 step Recovery STEPS BY THE BIG BOOK 7th Revision ..We are building an arch through which we shall last. (75: 3) In a friendly, focused group of sponsors, sponsees, and others in recovery we Study and Practice the Twelve STEPS as originally described in the text, alcoholics Anonymous . i search: STEPS by the big book 09-2010 Essential 12 step Recovery Practice These Principles (60: 0) STEPS BY THE BIG BOOK Our group study supports the pass-it-on process of one alcoholic talking with another. This workbook is for sponsors and sponsees who want to work through the STEPS together, and for those in recovery who want to go through the STEPS again.

2 Together, We Can Do It! This guide and website are not official resources of alcoholics Anonymous. You may contact AA at alcoholics Anonymous World Services, ii search: STEPS by the big book 09-2010 Seventh revision September, 2010 Free download of STEPS by the Big Book workbook available at: search: STEPS by the big book In addition to many downloads, copies of this workbook have been shipped to at least nine foreign countries and to over half of the states. No-charge printed copy and document disc available.

3 [While free of charge, an optional contribution ( $15) toward printing and distribution costs is appreciated.] Send inquiries to: STEPS by the Big Book #7 Small Meadows Lane Putney, Vermont 05346 (802) 387-5398 1 STEPS by the Big Book TABLE OF CONTENTS THE 12 STEPS OF alcoholics ANONYMOUS 2 INTRODUCTION 3 Study and Practice 3 Your Group 4 Working with a Sponsor or Buddy 5 Guide to This Guide 5 How a Session May Go 6 Example of Group Format 9 PART I SESSION 1 through SESSION 7 11 Big Book.

4 Preface, Chapters 1 5 Relaxation Focus Meditations / Prayers STEPS 1, 2, 3 13 Notes: STEPS 1, 2, 3 15 step 1 18 step 2 29 step 3 33 PART II SESSION 8 through SESSION 12 37 Big Book: Chapter 5 Relaxation Focus Meditations / Prayers step 4 39 Assets and Liabilities Check List 40 Notes: step 4 41 Annotated Big Book pp. 64-67 step 4 Resentment 45 step 4 Flow Chart 49 step 4 Resentment A&B: Grudge List & Turnarounds 53&57 step 4 Fear 65 step 4 Relationships Including Sex 71 step 4 Review 77 PART III SESSION 13 through SESSION 20 79 Big Book: Chapters 6 & 7 Relaxation Focus Meditations / Prayers STEPS 5 12 81 Notes.

5 STEPS 5 12 83 step 5 89 step 6 93 step 7 97 step 8 99 step 9 101 step 10 103 step 11 105 step 12 107 SUMMARY OF STEPS BY THE BIG BOOK 111 INDEX 115 2 The 12 STEPS of alcoholics ANONYMOUS [Optional: the point ; Spiritual Principles] step 1 We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable.

6 [Honesty I have a problem!] step 2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. [Hope There s help for my problem.] step 3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him. [Trust I make a commitment to follow ALL of the suggestions.] step 4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. [Courage Who am I?] step 5 Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

7 [Integrity I share who I am with someone else.] step 6 Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. [Willingness As a result of step 4, I see things about myself I would like to change.] step 7 Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. [Humility I start trying to change!] step 8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. [Compassion As a result of step 4, I make a list of people that I mistreated, or for whom I had ill feelings.]

8 ] step 9 Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. [Justice If possible, I mend things with these people so that I can get rid of my bad feelings.] step 10 Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. [Perseverance I look at ME daily. How am I doing: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually?] step 11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

9 [Spiritual awareness I continue to grow as a human being daily.] step 12 Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these STEPS , we tried to carry this message to alcoholics , and to practice these principles in all our affairs. [Service I try to help other alcoholics /addicts, and to practice what I have learned in all areas of my life.] Introduction 3 INTRODUCTION Study and Practice How can we alcoholics in recovery live happy, joyous, and free? ( alcoholics Anonymous, page 133: paragraph 0) alcoholics Anonymous is the life changing program formed by two desperate alcoholics in 1935.

10 In the Big Book, as the text alcoholics Anonymous is known, we read the written words of the first 100 men and women of AA as they were put in the way of a spiritual awakening. Where did their words come from? What were their practices of the day by day disciplines that became the principles of the 12 STEPS ? How did they do it? The STEPS are suggested guides for recovery. There is no rule that says anyone has to do them, and there is no regulation about how they should be done. This STEPS by the Big Book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines (60: 1) by studying the first 103 pages of the Big Book while actually doing the STEPS .