SPONSOR SPONSEE WRITING GUIDE &
Step 0 1. Read from the beginning of the Basic Text, Text, “Our Symbol” to the end of Chapter “!o" #t 2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
$or%s” &ns"er these 'uestions from Chapter “!o" #t $or%s” a. Are we sure sure we want want to stop stop using using? ? b. Do we understa understand nd that we have have no real real control control over drugs? drugs? c. Do we recognize that in in the long run, we didn’t use drugs—they drugs—they used us? d. Did jails jails and institutions institutions take over over the management management o o our lives lives at di!erent times? e. Do we ully ully accept accept the act act that our our every attempt to stop using using or to control our using ailed? . Do we know know that that our addicti addiction on changed changed us into into someone someone we didn’t didn’t want want to be" dishonest, deceitul, sel#willed people at odds with ourselves and our ellow man? g. Do we really believe that we we have ailed as drug users? Write down what o! e"#e$t %ro NA Write down what o! e"#e$t %ro o!r '#on'or Write what the e"a$t nat!re o% o!r addi$tion i' Get a GOOD di$tionar GOOD di$tionar Read Cha#ter' ( & ) at *ea't + tie' ,e%ore -oin- onto Step One
#f you "ant "hat "e ha(e to offer and are willing to ma%e the effort to get it))))))
5) Set aside aside the natural natural reser(at reser(ations ions you you ha(e about follo"i follo"ing ng & guidance) guidance)
Step * "We admitted that we were powerless over our addition! that our lives had eome unmana#eale." The first mista%e that many of us ma%e "hen "e come into the program is that "e thin% drugs are the problem) $hen "e say to the ne"comer that drugs are only a symptom of a much deeper problem 6addiction7, it is hard for them to understand this) To get a better understanding of addiction, "e must loo% at the disease concept of addiction) .rom that point of (ie", addiction is a disease of attitudes, personality, personality, and a general negati(e outloo%, that is rooted in fear, insecurity, and lo" self8esteem) The main ingredients of addiction are obsession and compulsion) Obsession 8 that fixed idea that ta%es us bac% time and time again to our particular drug, or some substitute, 6substitute being anything that ma%es us feel good and get instant gratification, such as money, po"er, sex, food, anger, etc)7 to recapture the ease and comfort "e once %ne") Compulsion 8 once ha(ing started the process "ith one fix, one pill, one drin% or one substitute "e cannot stop through our o"n po"er of "ill) Because of our physical sensiti(ity to drugs and anything that ma%es us feel good, "e are completely in the grip of a destructi(e po"er greater than oursel(es) 9oo%ing at addiction from this point of (ie", ( ie", "e see ho" addiction ma%es our li(es unmanageable "ith or "ithout drugs) &t this point, "e must surrender and accept ho" po"erless "e are o(er our addiction) $hen "e do this a (ery ( ery strange thing happens, "e begin to gain po"er through the 6$:7 part of the program and the next :le(en Steps) #t has often been said that the .irst Step is our past and the things of our past that are "ith us today) The next :le(en Steps are our future) o" that "e ha(e a better understanding of our addiction, let us loo% at some "ays "e can apply the
$rite $rite out the follo"ing 'uestions> *) $hat do you ha(e to gi(e to the ?$:? of )&)4 +) !o" !o" ha(e ha(e you you been been isol isolat atin ing4 g4 3) !o" good are you at bein being g a part part of4 ) !o" many times times is the the "ord "ord ?admitte ?admitted? d? in our steps4 steps4 5) $hy is this this "ord "ord so so impo import rtant4 ant4 @) !o" good are you at admit admittin ting4 g4 A) #n the diction dictionary ary,, loo% up and and "rite out out the definiti definition on of ?admitted?) ?admitted?) ) $r $rite ite your your defin definiti ition on of ?admitt ?admitted? ed?)) ) $hat $hat is your your defini definitio tion n of ?po"er ?po"erles less?4 s?4 *0) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?po"erless?) ?po"erless?) **) $hat does the "ord ?"ere? ?"ere? mean as used in the .irst .irst Step4 *+) $hat is ?our addiction addiction?4 ?4 *3) 9oo% through the first ten chapters of the Basic Text Text and "rite do"n all definitions definitions for addiction) 6Stated or implied7 *) $hat is the disease disease of addiction4 addiction4 *5) $hy is being being clean clean not enough4 enough4 *@) !o" "as my life unmanageable in my addiction4 65 examples7 *A) !o" is my life unmanageable in in reco(ery4 65 examples7 examples7 *) !o" do # apply the .irst .irst Step Step in my life4 *) &m # "illing "illing to accept the steps as a "ay of life4 +0) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?addiction?) ?addiction?) +*) $r $rite ite out ho" you "ere po"erless o(er your addiction "hen using) 65 examples7 ++) $hat does ?had become? mean "hen used in the first first step4 +3) $r $rite ite out your definition of ?unmanageable?) +) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?unmanageable?) +5) !o" "as your your life unmanageable "hen you you "ere using and in reco(ery4
Step + We came to !elieve that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The insanity referred to in this step is not the insanity of using drugs) $e "ere restored to the sanity of not using by surrendering to Step *, "e no" find oursel(es clean, and a nd our li(es are still unmanageable in many areas) Duch of that unmanageability un manageability comes from doing the something repeatedly, and expecting different results each time) Of course, the results are al"ays the same, unmanageability and insanity in our li(es) But "hat is there to do, go on the best "e can, or begin to change "ith the second step as our guide through ongoing ong oing reco(ery) The next 'uestion "e begin to as% is> $hat is the po"er greater than "e are4 Dany of us immediately thought this meant our higher po"er, but "e are not introduced to a higher po"er until the Third Step) Our higher po"er is the ultimate po"er greater than oursel(es, "hate(er our concept of a higher po"er is) !o"e(er, this is not the po"er greater than oursel(es that "e are referring to in the second step) The best "ay to explain this is that a po"er greater than us can change from situation to situation) # li%e li%e to call it gifts from my higher po"er) & po"er greater than oursel(es can be the & program, our sponsor, another person, pain or something "e may read, etc) #t is anything that ma%es us a"are of the insanity of a situation if "e act out on a defect or negati(e "ill) o" ha(ing an understanding of the Second Step, let us loo% at some of the "ays "e can apply the Second Step into our li(es)
$rite $rite out the follo"ing 'uestions> *) $hat $hat does does ?$:? ?$:? mean mean as as it appl applies ies to to Step Step +4 +) $r $rite ite out the definiti definition on of ?came ?came to? as as they apply apply to step step +) 3) $r $rite ite out your o"n o"n definiti definition on of the the "ord "ord ?belie(e) ?belie(e)?? ) #n the dictiona dictionary ry,, loo% up and "rite "rite out out the definiti definition on of the "ord "ord ?belie(e)? ?belie(e)? 5) $hat is your your definit definition ion of ?a po"er po"er greater greater than us?4 @) 9ist 3 po"ers po"ers greater greater than than yoursel yourselff in your your acti(e acti(e using) using) A) 9ist 3 po"ers po"ers greater greater than than yoursel yourselff in your your reco(ery reco(ery)) ) $hat are are the 3 characteri characteristics stics that a higher po"er should ha(e4 ) $hat $hat does does the the "ord "ord ?coul ?could? d? mean mean to to you4 you4 *0) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?could)? **) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?restore)? ?restore)? *+) $rite $rite out ho" you you "ere insane "hen using) using) *3) $rite $rite out ho" you are insane in reco(ery) reco(ery) *) $rite $rite out your definition of ?sanity) ?sanity)?? *5) #n the dictionary, loo% loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?sanity)? ?sanity)? *@) $hat are the benefits of ?coming to belie(e in a po"er greater greater than you4? *A) ame *0 positi(e things that a po"er greater than yourself yourself has done for you) *) $hat is a po"er greater greater than than you4 *) $hat type of sanity is the second step referring to4 +0) !o" can # apply this this step into into my life4 +*) $hat does this this step mean mean to me4
Step 3 We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of "od as we understood him. This has often been referred to as a stumbling bloc% of reco(ery) Dany of us 1ust get stuc% here and can-t seem to mo(e on) The reason for this, as addicts "e li%e to ta%e something simple and complicate it, but it does not ha(e to be that "ay if "e become "illing and open8minded) o" "ith that in mind let us loo% at this step, beginning "ith the "ord decision) $hat $hat is a decision4 & decision is an action "ord, it is a beginning, a starting point or loo%ing at it from a point of reco(ering, it is the time "e let go of our o ur old attitudes and let the steps begin to build ne" attitudes in our li(es as "e ma%e mista%es and gro" in spiritual principles) &s you can see no", being "illing and open minded is (ery important as far as decision and the Third Step are concerned) Simply put, a decision is accepting this step into our li(es) The next part of the step "e must loo% at is ?To turn our "ill and our li(es)? $e must as% oursel(esE "hat does the step mean by b y our "ill and our li(es4 Our "ill is our "a y of doing things) $e al"ays al"ays "ant to fix things to the "ay "e "ant them, no matter "ho it hurts or destroys) d estroys) #t comes from the core of our disease, self8centeredness) There is only one po"er that can destroy self8centeredness and that is spirituality) spirituality) $e are are no" beginning beg inning to build spirituality in our li(es, "hich "e " e get a realiFation of its strength and po"er in the :le(enth Step) Our li(es simply mean our day8to8day affairs) Our problems, our "orries, and our pain are "hat "e "or% "ith) o" let-s loo% at the "ords ?o(er to the care of God as "e understand !im)? Dany of us could not or
$e lea(e out the "ord C&R:) $ithout $ithout the "ord care "e change the entire meaning of the step) 9et me gi(e you an example of this) #t is Saturday night and you and your "ifeHhusband are going out for the night and ha(e a child, you do not turn your child o(er to a babysitter, bab ysitter, but you turn your child o(er to the care of a babysitter to "atch and guide) $hen "e turn our "ill and li(es o(e r to the care of God "e do this not to become robots or carbon copies of each other, but to ha(e a !igher 2o"er of our understanding "atch and guide our "ill and li(es) The 'uestion has been as%ed many times, ?"hat is God-s "ill for me4? The ans"er is simple, God-s "ill for us is to act mature and responsible to the best of our ability, at "hate(er point of our reco(ery "e are at) God-s "ill for us gro"s as "e gro") #f "e act mature and responsible to the best of our ability, the outcome of our situation "ill be as mature and responsible as it can be at that point of reco(ery) o", "hen "e turn our li(es o(er to the care of God as "e understood him, one of t"o things "ill happen) 9et us loo% at "hat these t"o things are> *) #f "e are li(ing li(ing the first three steps in our li(es on all things, in other "ords, "e are li(ing mature and responsibleE our higher po"er "ill "or% things out for us) +) #f "e are not li(ing the first three steps on our li(es our higher po"er "ill allo" us to feel the conse'uences of our actions, so "e can learn from them, so "e can act mature and responsible) $hen "e first came into the program of arcotics &nonymous &nonymous "e "ere physically, mentally and spiritually ban%rupt) The first step restored us physically) physically) The second step restored us mentally and the third step restored us spiritually) $e $e must maintain (igilance o(er these three aspects of our disease) The first to go "ill be the spiritualE the second to go "ill be the mentalHemotional part of our disease) The next and final "ill be the physical, the act of pic%ing up again) That is "hy it is so important to li(e these steps in our li(esE it is the maintenance of our o ur program) #f you ha(e no higher po"er, try G)O)=), Good Orderly =irection) One last thing "e "ill tal% about is the relationship of the Serenity 2rayer to the first three steps) Once "e realiFe the connection bet"een b et"een the t"o, the serenity prayer becomes a po"erful tool in our li(es) 9et us loo% at it) The courage to change the things # can) The second step means doing things differently to change the outcome from insane results)
*) $ho manages manages your life life in reco(ery4 reco(ery4 *5) $hat is is a ?decision?4 ?decision?4 *@) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?decision?) ?decision?) *A) $hat is is our ?"ill? ?"ill?44 *) $hat is is our ?li(es? ?li(es?44 *) $hat do the "ords "ords ?o(er to the care care of- mean to you4 you4 +0) #n the dictionary, dictionary, loo% up and "rite out the definition of ?care?) +*) $hat "as your relationship relationship "ith God li%e before coming coming to &4 ++) $hat are the three characteristics characteristics needed for ?a God of our understanding4? +3) $rite $rite out in detail "hat you you belie(e to be your !igher 2o"er4 +) $rite $rite out e(ery time you felt God-s God-s presence in reco(ery and "hile using) using) +5) $rite $rite out + things you ha(e to be grateful grateful for today) today)
Step We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Dany of us sat "ith a .ourth Step guide and loo%ed at it "ith fear) $e $e as% oursel(es is this necessary4 The purpose of this "or%sheet is to prepare u s for this step) $hen "e understand this step and "hy it must be done, our attitude can be of positi(e expectation, rather than one of fear and panic) o" let us ta%e a loo% at "hat the .ourth Step is about) $hat is a moral in(entory4 in(entory4 Dost of us are pretty good at ta%ing an in(entory of someone else "ithout e(en %no"ing the facts and moti(es connected "ith that person, but no" "e are going to ta%e our o"n in(entory, using self honesty on all the facts and feelings connected "ith our attitude, personalities and beha( iors) That is exactly "hat a moral in(entory is) $e $e are going to loo% at our (alues and morals throughout our li(es, including no") $hen you begin to "rite on the topics of your guide, you are not to "rite 1ust your personal history, but the feelings connected "ith the act as "ell as the feelings you ha(e about them today) ou ou may as% "hy so much concern about feelings4 The reason for this is the fourth step is going to introduce you to your real self) The purpose of this step is not to 1udge you, but let you beco me a"are of yourself as you "ere in your past and ho" you are today, so you %no" "hat you need to change in your life, attitudes, and beha(ior) This This step "ill also release the stored up guilt you you ha(e been carrying "ith you) ou ou "ill realiFe that you are not responsible for many of the things you did in your addiction) our our disease is responsible responsible for that) ou ou "ill become a"are, ho"e(er, that you are responsible for your reco(ery) There are no longer excuses, because you realiFe you must li(e the steps daily or you "ill die spiritually, spiritually, emotionally and physically) physically)
$rite $rite out the follo"ing 'uestions> ?$e made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves )?
*) #n the dictiona dictionary ry,, loo% up and "rite "rite out out the definiti definition on of the "ords "ords in !old abo(e +) $hat $hat is is a moral moral in(e in(ento ntory ry of of us4 us4 3) $hat 'ualit 'uality y of charact character er must must be used used in ta%ing ta%ing an in(entor in(entory4 y4 ) $hy is the the .ourt .ourth h Step Step so so import important ant44 5) $hat $hat do feelin feelings gs ha(e ha(e to do "ith "ith the fourt fourth h step4 step4 @) $hy is the fourth fourth step step not a history history,, a confessio confession, n, and a 1udgmen 1udgment4 t4 A) $hat $hat "ill "ill a fourth fourth step step do for for you4 you4 ) &re you resp respons onsibl iblee for for your your past past44 ) $hat $hat are you you respons responsibl iblee for in in our prog program ram44 *0) $hen "ill you start the fourth step and ho" are you going to do it4 **) $hat are the foundati foundation on steps4 steps4 *+) $hat are the cleansing cleansing and release release steps4 *3) $hat are the mainten maintenance ance steps4 steps4
o" you are ready for Step ) Spea% "ith your sponsor and go through the Step $or%sheets $or%sheets at the bac% of this guide)
Step 5 ?$e admitted to God, to oursel(es, and another human being the exact nature of our "rongs)? The purpose of this "or%sheet is to prepare you to do your .ifth Step) Once your .ourth Step is finished, do not loo% at it) 2ut 2 ut it a"ay until you sit do"n "ith your sponsor) Dany of us addicts put off doing the .ifth Step after "e finished our .ourth Step because of fear) This feeling of fear is "ith us because "e do not really understand the .ifth . ifth Step) The reason "e are doing a .ifth Step is to ha(e someone help h elp us %no" oursel(es and gi(e us direction based on their experience in "or%ing a program of reco(ery) &s &s an addict, it is 'uite normal to "ant to isolate and say "e can do it alone and each time "e do that "e get oursel(es in trouble) Remember the Second Step tells us "e must do things differently if "e "ant a different outcome) $e must must reach out for trust in order to be deli(ered from the insanity of isolation) The purpose of sharing your .ourth Step "ith another person and your !igher 2o"er is not to 1udge you but to help you %no" yourself and guide you in areas that you need help) T"o of the most most important 'ualities you "ill get from doing a .ifth Step are open mindedness and "illingness) & spiritual spiritual a"a%ening you "ill recei(e is that you are not uni'ue and different) ou ou find that by sharing your in(entory "ith another addict that they ha(e experienced many things you ha(e, physically, or they ha(e thought about doing it) Dany people, places, e(ents and circumstances may be different, but the feelings are the same) &fter doing this step you "ill ha(e a much better understanding of the $: of the program) o" is the time to go for"ard, pray to the higher po"er of your understanding and set a time to sit "ith "ith your & sponsor to do your .ifth Step)
Step @ We were entirely ready to have "od remove all these defects of character. :ntirely ready are the %ey "ords in this step) The (ery act of li(ing Steps One thru .i(e ma%es us entirely ready, "e 1ust need to recogniFe this and %no" our d efects can be remo(ed) & 'uestion that is al"ays as%ed is, -!o" does God remo(e all these defects of character4- The ans"er is in the Third Step) Before "e can use the Third Step in relation to the Sixth Step, "e must do some foot"or%) Our higher po"er "ill al"ays "or% through us and other reco(ering addicts, as long as "e are "illing to pro(ide the perspiration, our higher po"er "ill pro(ide the moti(ation) One "ay "e do the foot"or% is to ma%e a list of all our ou r defects) On one side of a piece of paper list defects of character, dra" a line do"n the center of the paper) &cross &cross from each defect on the other side of the line, "e list the opposite of each defect such as> #ntoleranceH Tolerance Tolerance .ear HCourage Resentments H.orgi(eness &fter "e ha(e completed this list to the best of our ability, "e can no" focus on assets "e "ish to ha(e) This becomes a goal) o" that "e are entirely ready to ha(e God remo(e these defects of character "e "ill mo(e on to the Se(enth Step) Dost of us, being the addicts "e are say this sounds too simple, but remember the Sixth Step says> ?$e "ere "ere entirely ready to ha(e God remo(e all these defects of character)? and this is "hat "e did, became entirely ready) =uring the fourth step "e came in touch "ith our innermost feelings and
#efects
$pposites
Step A We hum!ly asked him to remove our shortcomings. 9et us tal% about shortcomings before "e get into this step) &re shortcomings the same as defects4 The ans"er is yes and no) &s strange strange as it might seem it is true) $e say they are the same because they ha(e their roots in the defect) $e say they are different because the shortcoming is acting out of the defect) .or . or example, let-s ta%e the defect of impatience) ou ou are "aiting to pic% somebody up for a meeting) ou ou are doing them a fa(or and an d going out of your "ay) &t A>00 pm you arri(e on time) #t-s no" A>+0 pm and they are not ready yet and you might be late for the meeting) &t this point, many shortcomings of the defect of impatience are about to be acted upon) ou ou may get angry, frustrated, frustrated, and resentful) These shortcomings are born of a defect) Dany of the same shortcomings come from different defects) #n the Sixth Step "e become entirely ready to ha(e God remo(e all these defects of character) #n the Se(enth Step "e "ill see ho" God does this "hen "e humbly as% him to remo(e our shortcomings) Before "e actually learn ho" to apply this step, let us loo% at "hat the Se(enth Se( enth Step says) #t starts out by saying, ?"e humbly as%ed him)? $hen "e recogniFe the fact that "e are responsible for our shortcomings e(en though "e are not
?$e hum!ly as%ed him to remove our shortcomings )? *) #n the dicti dictionary onary,, loo% up and "rite "rite out the definit definition ion of the the "ords in !old abo(e +) $hat is is the difference difference bet"een bet"een defects defects and and shortcom shortcomings4 ings4 3) !o" !o" do do "e becom becomee humb humble le44 ) $hat $hat are are shor shortc tcom omin ings gs44 5) !o" do do "e %eep %eep our disea disease se from from resur resurfac facing ing44 @) $hat $hat are are def defec ects ts44 A) $hy do "e ha(e to go to to meetings meetings as as long as "e are ali(e4 ali(e4
Step We made a list of all people we had harmed and !ecame willing to make amends to them all. Dany addicts become o(er"helmed "hen "h en they start this step) Dost of them do not understand "hy "e ha(e to deal "ith this part of our past) $e feel "e dealt as best "e could "ith these things "hen "e did the .ourth and .ifth steps and therefore, "e are not (ery "illing to ma%e a list) The thing "e must remember is that the step does not say be "illing and ma%e a list) #t simply says ma%e a list of all people "e had harmed, and then became "illing) $e can no" see this is a t"o8part step) 9et us tal% about the first part of the step, ma%ing a list) The first t"o names that should be put on our list are your higher po"er and then yourself) Dany times "e are stuc% "ith the old con, c on, did "e really harm this person) #f there is any doubt at all, list them) Dany times during our addiction there are many faceless people in our memory that "e harmed) e(er really %no"ing many of them and some "e 1ust can-t remember their names) Da%e on e entry on your list called .aceless 2eople) #n your inth Step you "ill be told "hat to do "ith them) Once your list is finished "e are ready to "or% on the second half of the step) This part of the step can be difficult for some of us if "e approach it "ith the "rong attitude) $e must accept the fact that & says "e must li(e all the steps in our li(es if "e are to ha(e a program of reco(ery) Remember the .irst Step "as our past and the things of the past that are "ith us today) The next ele(en steps "ere to be our future) #f "e are to ha(e any future that is producti(e and manageable, "e must ta%e the responsibility to be "illing) The "ay "e do this is first to accept "e are po"erless and
Step We made direct amends to such people wherever possi!le, except when to do so would in%ure them and others. This is 'uite simple "hen "e approach this step "ith an attitude of positi(e expectancy) This is the last of the cleansing and releasing steps) Dany Dan y doors in our reco(ery "ill begin to open for us after "e complete this step) Our gro"th "ill astound us) Ino"ing this alone can gi(e us an attitude of positi(e expectancy) $e do exactly as this step saysE "e ma%e direct amends to such people "here(er possible) e(ertheless, "hat about those people "e no longer %no" "here they are or those "e ne(er %ne" "ho they "ere, all those faceless people) Remember the first name "e put on our list, our higher po"er) $e $e can ma%e amends through our !igher 2o"er to all those faceless people and those "e cannot locate) The second name on the list, oursel(es) & 'uestion "e may as% is ho" "e ma%e amends to oursel(es) $e must realiFe "e started to ma%e amends to oursel(es the day "e "al%ed into &) $e continue to ma%e amends to oursel(es as "e li(e the steps and carry the message of & to other addicts) $e can ne(er gi(e a"ay more than "e ha(e, because as soon as "e gi(e it a"ay our !igher 2o"er gi(es us t"ice as much as "e ga(e) The next part of the step ?except "hen to do so "ould in1ure them or others)? $e must remember remember sometime in trying to ma%e amends, the amends themsel(es may in1ure the people you are trying to ma%e amends "ith) 9et me explain for instance, someone you in1ured in your addiction by stealing from) They trusted you and ne(er %ne" you stole from them) #n (erbally ma%ing the amends you may in1ure them by shoc%ing them and causing them to ha(e resentment) ou ou may "ant to handle hand le this amend by
&tep '( We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
This is the first of the maintenance steps) #t is a (ery important step because it co(ers the .ourth an d .ifth Steps on a daily basis) By ta%ing a daily in(entory, "e can eliminate the built8up of many of the things "e dealt "ith from the .ourth through the inth Steps) $e approach this step in t"o parts) 9et us tal% about the first personal in(entory) 2ersonal in(entory is then di(ided into t"o parts) The first part is going o(er our day) Getting in touch "ith the "ay "e handled things throughout the day, good and bad) The second thing "e do in this step is "e ta%e the things "e did not handle "ell and loo% at them) &fter "e do that, "e go to the .irst Step and admit "e did not handle them "ell because bec ause of our addiction) $e no" go to the second step and see ho" "e could ha(e handled them differently d ifferently and finally "e go to the third step and ma%e a decision to turn them o(er to the care of the God of our understanding to help us handle them in a mature and responsible "ay) &gain, "e see the importance of the first three steps in relation to the other steps) The second part of the step deals "ith ?"hen "e are "rong "e promptly admitted it)? There is a lot of confusion about this part of the step) Dany Dan y addicts seem to thin% it means to go on "ith sororities) <hough apologies are a part of it, there is much more) ?$e promptly admitted it)? &pplies &pplies to self8 honesty, "hich is (ery important "hen "e ta%e our personal in(entory) $hen "e are "rong "e must promptly admit it to oursel(es if "e are to do anything about it) Dany times as addicts, "e "ill go around telling e(erybody that "e are sorry) That is not the ans"er) &s &s sorry means nothing if "e continue to %eep doing the same thing repeatedly) $e must use self8honesty to admit our "rong to oursel(es so that "e can apply the first three steps to the
&tep '' We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with "od as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and power to carry that out. !ere in the :le(enth Step all the "or% "e put into the steps seems to all come together) &s &s "e learned to li(e the pre(ious Ten Steps "e ha(e been practicing prayer and meditation e( en though "e may not no t be a"are of it) Our starting point here "ill be to consciously impro(e prayer and meditation to the God of our understanding) The program of & is not about telling you ho" to pray and meditate) ou ou de(elop that techni'ue in relation to your higher po"er and the "ay you feel comfortable) !o"e(er, many addicts %eep as%ing -!o" do # pray4- and -!o" do # meditate4- The follo"ing are "ays some addicts pray and meditate) These examples are here only to gi(e you some place to start and de(elop your o"n "ay) "a y) ou "ill %no" "hich "ay is right for you by the "ay you feel) The feeling of serenity and no stress "ill tell you that you ha(e made conscious contact) One of the follo"ing may fit your needs or you may de(elop your o"n) Remember, it is a God of your o"n understanding and a conscious contact con tact you can relate to) !ere are some examples of ho" different addicts pray) *) Simply Simply telling telling a !igher 2o"er 2o"er than% you and feeling feeling gratitude gratitude for all all the things things that enriched enriched your life) &n attitude of gratitude is an attitude that "ill %eep us in the room of &) +) ¬her ¬her addict may may simply feel feel comfortabl comfortablee getting on his %nees %nees and saying saying than%s and and as%ing
?Only for the %no"ledge of his h is "ill and po"er to carry that out)? #s the next part of the Step) &s "e practice these principles in our life, the core of our disease, self8centeredness, self8centeredness, "ill become arrested and "e "ill begin to act in a more mature and responsible "ay in all of our ou r affairs) &n &n a"areness of this begins to become %no"n to our self and "e disco(er that God-s "ill for us is to practice these steps in in our li(es and "e gain this po"er through prayer and meditation) $rite $rite out the follo"ing 'uestions> *) +) 3) )
$hat $hat is a pra praye yer4 r4 $hat $hat is medi medita tati tion4 on4 $hy is is prayer prayer and and medit meditati ation on necessa necessary ry44 #s ther theree any certa certain in "ays "ays to pray pray or medit meditate ate44
&tep ') *aving had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.+ This step gi(es us direction of "hat "e must do in our affairs) The spiritual a"a%ening as a result of these steps is (ery simple) The a"a%ening is that the steps "or% and that "e must carry the message that they "or% to other addicts) That a"a%ening also tells me # must practice their principles in all my affairs) Jery Jery simply, this step tells me to carry the message of the steps and li(e them in my life) Carry the message means also that # must gi(e to the & program so it can gi(e the message of the steps to other addicts) #f # am to li(e the steps it means # must get in(ol(ed in ser(ice in some "ay) # no longer ha(e an ex cuse) This is not the endE it is the beginning beg inning of a ne" "ay of life) # must continue to apply the steps daily in my life) There is ne(er an end to learning the steps) #t is a lifetime 1ourney) $e do not graduate) $e do not get a diploma) $e gro" if "e li(e the steps, other"ise "e go) 9i(e the steps or die) $rite $rite out the follo"ing 'uestions> *) $hat $hat is the spirit spiritual ual a"a%en a"a%ening ing44
Worksheets
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