Session 1
The first step is the most important in recovery.
Half measures or blocking God could be keeping
us from fully receiving the promises?
Page 88 12&12 Step 10
“A continuous look at our assets and liabilities, and a
real desire to learn and grow by this means, are
necessities for us. We alcoholics have learned this the
hard way. More experienced people, of course, in all
times and places have practiced unsparing self‐survey
and criticism. For the wise have always known that no
one can make much of his life until self‐searching
becomes a regular habit, until he is able to admit and
accept what he finds, and until he patiently and
“Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it ‐ then you are ready to take certain steps. At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way, but we could not. “ BB page 58 “How it works”
BB page 83‐84 9th Step “If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self‐pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self‐seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook on life will change. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
12&12 page 34 Step 3
“Like all the remaining Steps, Step Three calls for affirmative action, for it is only by action that we can cut away the self‐will which has always blocked the entry of God— or, if you like, a Higher Power—into our lives. Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives.”
BB Doctors Opinion
“In this statement he confirms what we who have
suffered alcoholic torture must believe – that the
body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his
mind.”
BB Doctors opinion
“They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks‐drinks which they see others taking with impunity.”
Restless: 1. Unable to rest or relax as a result of anxiety
or boredom. 2. Having a persistent desire for change.
Irritable: Having or showing a tendency to be easily
annoyed or made angry.
Discontented: Dissatisfied, especially with ones
circumstances.
BB page 60 Step 3
“Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we
understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?
The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self‐will can hardly be a success.”
Awareness
Acceptance
12&12 page 34 Step 3
“For it is only by action that we can cut away the
self will which has always blocked the entry of
1. What does a successful life look like to you today?
2. How often are you restless, irritable and
discontent? Do you know why?
3. Are you willing to take action and have God help
you experience a new freedom and a new
Session 2
Without God directing our thinking and actions we
often search for an easier softer way to change how
we feel.
We can have faith but other addictive agents or
obsessive thinking can block us from God.
We may not know we are doing this or simply want the
temporary fix over relying on God.
12&12 page 34 Step 3
“Like all the remaining Steps, Step Three calls for affirmative action, for it is only by action that we can cut away the self‐will which has always blocked the entry of God— or, if you like, a Higher Power—into our lives. Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing. We can have faith, yet keep God out of our lives.”
BB page 84 Step 10 “We have entered the world of the spirit. Our Next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for a lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear. When these crop up we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn or thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance is our code.”
1. Pain‐ do not like how we feel. 2. Reaching out to an addictive agent, such as alcohol/drugs or other ways to ease the pain 3. Temporary anesthesia. 4. Negative consequences. 5. Feel guilt and shame which results in more pain. Addiction cycle page 21 ‐ Serenity a companion for 12 step recovery
Addictive agents page 12 Serenity‐ a companion for 12 step recovery
Alcohol/Drugs
page 21 Serenity‐ a companion for 12 step recovery “The work alcoholic who has low self esteem(pain) begins to overwork (addictive agent), which results in praise, success and achievement(relief). However, as a rule, family relationships and his personal relationship with God suffer terribly because of preoccupation with work (negative consequences). The results is an even greater sense of shame and guilt because of inadequacies, both real and imagined.”
Addictive agents page 12 Serenity‐ a companion for 12 step recovery Alcohol/Drugs • Work‐Achievement/Success/Recognition • Money‐ Gambling/Materialism/Hoarding/Overspending • Sex – physical act or fantasy lust/porn • Food • Control in our personal, sexual, family and business relationships • Co‐dependency and Approval dependency • Excessive Exercise or outer appearance • Digital‐ email, text, internet, social media, smart phone
Feel “R.I.D” Stay “R.I.D Delay Change Live “R.I.D” Never Change Pain/Change/ Growth = Freedom/Happiness Pain/Change/ Growth = Freedom/Happiness
Commitment is doing what you said you
would do long after the feeling of
Interested
Committed
Talks about it Takes action to change Stops at Pain Pushes through pain
Avoids Courage to be honest with
Honesty himself and sponsor. Vulnerability Accepts direction and Accountability accountability
AA Serenity Prayer
“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I
can not change, the courage to change the
things I can, and the wisdom to know the
difference.”
Courage: the choice and willingness to
Session 3
Pay Attention to how many times the 11th step mentions our
thinking. Our thinking can build us or break us. This spiritual law has been taught for thousands of years. What we think about we bring about. Remember the boomerang analogy. All thinking good or bad is coming back to us in return.
First step in change is awareness. When we accept this the
“The more we become willing to depend
upon a Higher power, the more
Independent we actually are.”
“There is a direct linkage among self‐examination,
meditation, and prayer. Taken separately, these
practices can bring much relief and benefit. But
when they are logically related and interwoven, the
result is an unshakable foundation for life.”
12&12 Page 98 Step 11“If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you
will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.”
‐Emmett Fox
Step 11
“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our
conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
Suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be
shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we
are using it constantly. It works, if we have the
proper attitude and work at it. It would be easy to
be vague about this matter. Yet, we believe we can
make some definite and valuable suggestions.
Page 85‐86 BB Step 11
Page 85‐86 BB Step 11
Step Eleven
When we retire at night, we constructively review
our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or
afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept
something to ourselves which should be discussed
with another person at once? Were we kind and
loving toward all? What could we have done
better?
Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or
were we thinking of what we could do for others, of
what we could pack into the stream of life? But we
must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or
morbid reflection, for that would diminish our
usefulness to others. After making our review we
ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective
measures should be taken.
Page 86 BB Step 11
On awakening let us think about the twenty‐four
hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day.
Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking,
especially asking that it be divorced from self‐pity,
dishonest or self‐seeking motives.
Page 86 BB Step 11
Under these conditions we can employ our mental
faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us
brains to use. Our thought‐life will be placed on a
much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of
wrong motives.
Page 86 BB Step 11
In thinking about our day we may face indecision.
We may not be able to determine which course to
take. Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive
thought or a decision. We relax and take it easy. We
don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right
answers come after we have tried this for a while.
Pages 86‐87 BB Step 11
What used to be the hunch or the occasional
inspiration gradually becomes a working part of the
mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made
conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we
are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for
this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and
ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as
time passes, be more and more on the plane of
inspiration. We come to rely upon it.
Pages 86‐87 BB Step 11
We usually conclude the period of meditation with a
prayer that we be shown all through the day what our
next step is to be, that we be given whatever we need to
take care of such problems. We ask especially for freedom
from self‐will, and are careful to make no request for
ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if
others will be helped. We are careful never to pray for our
own selfish ends. Many of us have wasted a lot of time
doing that and it doesn't work. You can easily see why.
If circumstances warrant, we ask our wives or friends to join
us in morning meditation. If we belong to a religious
denomination which requires a definite morning devotion,
we attend to that also. If not members of religious bodies,
we sometimes select and memorize a few set prayers which
emphasize the principles we have been discussing. There
are many helpful books also. Suggestions about these may
be obtained from one's priest, minister, or rabbi. Be quick to
see where religious people are right. Make use of what they
offer.
Page 87 BB Step 11
As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or
doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We
constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the
show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day
"Thy will be done." We are then in much less danger of
excitement, fear, anger, worry, self‐pity, or foolish
decisions. We become much more efficient. We do not tire
so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we
did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves.
Page 87 BB Step 11
It works ‐ it really does. We alcoholics are
undisciplined. So we let God discipline us in the
simple way we have just outlined. But this is not all.
There is action and more action.
Session 4
We must be careful when praying for answers to what we have already decided is good for us. We need to discuss with sponsor before becoming close minded and making foolish decisions.
Step 3 tells us that we are now working for God. We must do his work well to receive a new freedom and new happiness. The saint Francis prayer can empower us to be a channel and help bring God through us to others.
12&12 Page 103 Step 11
“Of course, it is reasonable and understandable that the question is often asked: “Why can't we take a specific and
troubling dilemma straight to God, and in prayer secure from Him sure and definite answers to our requests?”
12&12 Page 103 Step 11 “This can be done, but it has hazards. We have seen A.A.'s ask with much earnestness and faith for God's explicit guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or financial crisis to correcting a minor personal fault, like tardiness. Quite often, however, the thoughts that seem to come from God are not answers at all. They prove to be well‐ intentioned unconscious rationalizations. The A.A., or indeed any man, who tries to run his life rigidly by this kind of prayer, by this self‐serving demand of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual.”
12 &12 page 104 Step 11 “To any questioning or criticism of his actions he instantly proffers his reliance upon prayer for guidance in all matters great or small. He may have forgotten the possibility that his own wishful thinking and the human tendency to rationalize have distorted his so‐called guidance. With the best of intentions, he tends to force his own will into all sorts of situations and problems with the comfortable assurance that he is acting under God's specific direction. Under such an illusion, he can of course create great havoc without in the least intending it.”
“Neither could we reduce our self‐centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help.”
BB Page 62 Step 3
“This is the how and why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom.”
“When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn.”
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace. That where there is hatred,
I may bring love.
PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
12&12 Step 11
That where there is wrong,
I may bring the spirit of forgiveness. That where there is discord,
I may bring harmony.
That where there is error, I may bring truth.
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.
That where there is despair, I may bring hope.
That where there are shadows, I may bring light.
That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.
To understand, than to be understood. To love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
