Twelve STEPS

to
Spiritual AWAKENING

Our WAY of Life

January 1, 2024 1
 Prayers

Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and
wisdom to know thedifference.
Set Aside Prayer
God, please set aside everything that I think
I know about myself, my unmanageability, my spiritual path
and You, for an open mind and a new
experienceof myself, my unmanageability, my spiritual path
and especially You!
Third Step Prayer
(Big Book page 63)
“God, I offer myself to thee, to build with me and to do with me as
Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them
may bear witness to those I would help of Thy
Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!"
Seventh Step Prayer
(Big Book page 76)
"My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character that stands in
the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.
Grant me strength as I go out from here to do your bidding.
Amen."

January 1, 2024 2
Adapted from Maslow Model

January 1, 2024 3
 Twelve Steps to
Spiritual Awakening
Purpose A Relationship with:

 1-3 God

 4-7 Self

 8&9 Others

 10-12 Our Way of Life

January 1, 2024 4
 Dynamic Process

QUESTION?

EXPERIENCE INFORMATION

ACTION

January 1, 2024 5
 Reflections

 What did I hear?

 What does it mean?

 How does it apply to me?

 What is my experience?

 What is my invitation?

January 1, 2024 6
 Do I Have an Addiction?
Substances: alcohol, drugs, or food? Processes: gambling, work, internet, gaming, relationships, etc.?

Ask & Answer – HONESTLY:

1. Have I ever been arrested or hospitalized after drinking alcohol, using drugs, food or for other behavior?
2. Have I ever used more than I intended? Did I do it more than once … twice … three times?
3. Have I ever made a resolutionto control my use of alcohol,drugs, foodor behavior? Was I unable to,
consistently?
4. Have I ever quit on a voluntary basis? More than once … twice … threetimes?
5. For how long did I stop? Did I stay stopped? What was I thinking or feeling just before I began using or engaging
in the compulsive behavior again?
6. Have I ever been asked to quit or moderate? By spouse/ significantother? By family member? By employer?
By clients? By court? By attorney? By doctor? By therapist/ counselor?By friends?
7. Have I ever experienced lapses in memory (blackouts) while using alcohol, drugs, food or engaged in
other compulsivebehavior?
8. Have I ever had an accident (car, falls, etc.) or need medical help after drinking, using drugs, food or other
compulsivebehavior?
9. Have I ever lost a job or a relationship related to use of alcohol, drugs, food; or engaged in other
compulsive behavior?
10. Have I ever been embarrassedby my behavior when drinking,usingdrugs, food other compulsive behavior ?
11. Do I ever hide my drinking, drug, food, or any compulsivebehavior use from anyone: significant other? Doctor?
Employer? Therapist?
12. Do I ever drink alcohol, use drugs, or misuse food in the morning?
13. After drinking/drugging/eating heavily the day before, have I ever begun drinking/drugging/eating the next day to
feel better?
14. Do I ever use alcohol,drugs, or food to wake up, go to sleep,increase or decrease my energy?
15. Do I ever feel a need for alcohol,drugs, or food to feel OK, especially in social situations?
16. Have I ever hurt or threatenedanyone when drinkingalcohol, usingdrugs, food or other compulsive behavior ?
17. Do I ever have a strongphysical or emotionalcravingfor alcohol, drugs, or food?
18. Do I ever drink alcohol, use drugs,or eat food excessively,alone?
19. Does usingalcohol, drugs,food, or engaging in other compulsive behavior ever interfere with the quality of any
aspect of my life?
20. Doesmy drinking, drug use, eatingor other compulsivebehaviors ever make me unhappy or remorseful?

If you answered “Yes” to any question, you may need a professional assessment
for possible addictiondisorder. January 1, 2024 7
 History

1932 Dr. Carl Jung

Psychology /Theology

Spiritual Experience

1933 Oxford Group

Religion

Six Steps / Conversion

Dr. Silkworth
1934 Medicine

Fatal Disease:
Allergy & Obsession

January 1, 2024 8
History

January 1, 2024 9
Problem

Obsession/ Delusion

MIND

January 1, 2024 10
Solution

12 STEPS (1939)

RECOVERY

January 1, 2024 11
 Big Book of
Alcoholics Anonymous
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE STEP
PREFACE XI
FORWARD FIRST EDITION XIII
FORWARD SECOND EDITION XV
PROBLEM

FORWARD THIRDEDITION XXII

FORWARD FOURTH EDITION XXIII
THE DOCTOR’S OPINION XXV
1. BILL’S STORY 1
2. THERE IS ASOLUTION 17
3. MORE ABOUTALCOHOLISM 30 Step 1 (note)

4. WE AGNOSTICS 44 Step2
5. HOW IT WORKS 58 Steps 3 &4
6. INTO ACTION 72 Steps 5 -11
7. WORKING WITH OTHERS • CARRY THE MESSAGE 89 Step12
SOLUTION

• PRACTICE PRINCIPLES
8. TO WIVES SPOUSE / SIGNIFICANT OTHER 104 Step12
9. THE FAMILY AFTERWARD FAMILY 122 Step12
10. TO EMPLOYERS WORK 136 Step12
11. A VISION FORYOU COMMUNITY / FELLOWSHIP 151 Step12

Exceptions to this structure: Bill’sStory

Pages 1 through8 describe the problem = his powerlessness(Step1)

Pages 9 through16 detailthe solution= his recovery (Steps 2 through 12)

NOTE :
The description of “unmanageability,” the second half of Step 1, the spiritual malady, is described on
pages 44 and 45, page 52 “bedevilment” paragraph,and pages 60 to 62 (“we are extreme examples of
self-will runriot”)

60 pages = 34% of TEXT IS ON STEP 1

40 pages= 23% of TEXT IS ON STEPS 2-11
75 pages = 43% of TEXT IS ON STEP 12
175 PAGES (includes11 pages of roman numerals)

January 1, 2024 12
Assignment Process

 Prayer
 Reading
 Listening
 Reflection
 Writing
 Discussion

 HEART

January 1, 2024 13
 Reflection
1. Where is my life not working:
• Disturbances?
• Frustrations?
• Dishonesty?
• Unforgiving / Unforgiven?
• Secrets?

2. Are my efforts:
• Effective?
• Consistent?
• Lasting?
• Producing desired results?

3. Do I really want my life to

change? Am I willing to
change?… to be changed?

4. What changes would I like?

January 1, 2024 14
 Step One

BODY WILL

PhysicalDefect = ALLERGY Spiritual Defect =

UNMANAGEABILITY

Selfishness
Phenomenon ofCraving Self-centeredness

SpiritualMalady

Transformation
Compulsion
OTHER /other
Centeredness

ABSTINENCE Right
ACTION

Spiritual
MIND MentalDefect=
OBSSESSION
Delusion
Awakening
Right
THINKING

January 1, 2024 15
 Body

1) What is my experience with addiction?

2) What happens when I indulge in this addiction?

List 3 examples

3) What is my history of attempts to deal with it – to stop after I start?

Describe 3 examples
_

4) How successful have I been, once I start, to control substance use and/or behavior?

5) How honest have I been about it with others or myself – my efforts and failures?

January 1, 2024 16
 Mind
1) Have I made a resolution to stop any substance use or specific behavior? Be specific –
list 3 examples.

_
2) What do I think or feel just before I engage in use and/or that specific behavior AGAIN?
Am I even conscious? Or am I into it before I realize it?

3) How soon do I realize that I am doing it AGAIN?

4) How does that make me feel? What is my reaction?

5) Do I make another / stronger resolution to stay abstinent?

6) How well does this work? How successful have I been at staying abstinent?

7) How honest have I been with others or myself about it – my efforts and my failures?

January 1, 2024 17
 Will

1. Am I having trouble with personal relationships?

2. Can I control my emotions?

3. Am I a prey to misery and depression? Do I derive satisfaction from my way of life?

4. Am I or can I be self supporting?

5. Do I feel useful?

6. Am I full of fear?

7. Am I unhappy?

8. Am I able to be a real help to others?

9. Do I really care to be useful?

10. How honest have I been with others or myself about these issues – my efforts and my failures;
my doubts and my dissatisfactions?

11. Do I repeatedly do what I really don’t want to do?

Do I repeatedly don’t do what I want to do?

January 1, 2024 18
 Step Two
CHOICE ABOUT
POWER

*WILLINGNESS
FAITH = My CHOICE!

*Cornerstone
January 1, 2024 19
 Step Three
DECISION FOR
POWER

RELATIONSHIP

TRUST = My DECISION*

*Keystone
January 1, 2024 20
 SPIRITUAL ARCH

… to AWAKENING …

~ FREEDOM

January 1, 2024 21
Problem = Asleep
PROBLEM: IMPACT:

BELIEF LENS

Perception Delusional

Thought Demented

Feeling Dis-eased

Attitude Distorted

Behavior Dysfunctional

January 1, 2024 22
Ego Deflation at
Ego Deflation at Depth
Depth

… My STORY

BIOLOGY
GENETICS

FAMILY
CULTURE

EMOTIONS
EXPERIENCES
PSYCHOLOGY
EDUCATION
REALITY
TRUTH

January 1, 2024 23
 Basic Human Survival

Instincts
Fight Flight Freeze

Reactions
Anger Fear Dishonesty

Emotions

Resentment Fear/Anxiety Sex/Shame

SELF-
Centered

Step FOUR = EXACT NATURE

January 1, 2024 24
 Step Four

Name OBSTACLES / IMPEDIMENTS

SEX • DISHONESTY
• SECRETS
FEARS • GUILT*
• SHAME *

RESENTMENTS

SELFishness - SELFcenteredness
* Not in “BigBook”

January 1, 2024 25
 Step Four
Twelve & Twelve

SEVEN DEADLY SINS*

Pride
Envy
Anger
Greed
Gluttony
Lust
Sloth

*Twelve & Twelve

January 1, 2024 26
 Step Four: Resentment
Worksheet, ColumnThree
Before you begin the worksheet, write and pray a personal versionofthe Set Aside Prayer:

Column Three = BELIEFS?

Set Aside Prayer:

CONSIDER: When I resent (Column One)

for (Column Two),
did it hurt, threaten, or interfere with my:
What is my fear? May be
1. Self-esteem: What is my deep belief about who I am? opposite of my belief.
l am ___________________
___________________

2. Pride: How do I want other people to see me being treated?

Put myself on a stage w/other person; imagine a relevant audience watching. ___________________
Others should see (Column OnePerson) ___________________
treating me as

3. Ambition: What do I want to happen? ___________________

I want
___________________

4. Security: What do I need in order to be okay? Why?

___________________
I need
Why? ___________________

5. Personal relations: How do I expect this relationship should be?

Consider roles: "I expect [mothers/father/friends/bosses/partners/etc.] should.."
I expect ___________________
___________________

6. Sex (gender) relations: What is my belief about men/Women?

A real/ideal/model man should always or is ___________________
___________________

A real/ideal/model woman should always or is ___________________

___________________

7. Pocketbook: What is my affected value?

For example: money, material security, emotional security, well-being, etc. ___________________
Nothing should interfere with, affect, or lessen my
___________________
January 1, 2024 27
Prayer For Freedom From
Resentment
GOD,

(insert name), LIKE ME, IS A SPIRITUALLY

SICK PERSON.
PLEASE:
• HELP ME TO SHOW (insert name)TOLERANCE,
COMPASSION, AND PATIENCE;
• RELEASE ME FROM BEINGANGRY;
• ENABLE ME TO RELEASE THIS RESENTMENT;
• REMOVE THIS RESENTMENT;
• SHOW ME HOW TO TAKE A KINDLY ANDTOLERANT
VIEW OF (insert name);
• BRING ME TO ACCEPT REALITY AS IT IS;and
• SHOW ME HOW I CAN BE HELPFUL TO(insert
name).

THY WILL BE DONE!

January 1, 2024 28
 Step Four: Resentment
Worksheet, Column Four
Before you begin the worksheet, write and pray a personal version of the Set Aside Prayer:

Column Four – MOTIVES?

Set Aside Prayer
CONSIDER: When I resent (Column One)
for (Column Two),
I have a belief about my role- how I believe I am affected - from the Column Three analysis:
My PERCEIVED role like an actor in a play = e.g., misunderstood person, betrayed spouse, abused child, etc.:
When feeling this resentment I believe I am
Is the event true or false? Did it really happen?
Disregarding the other person/ entity involved entirely, consider before/during/airer the event that was/is the occasion for this resentment.

1. Self-seeking: Acting on my own behalf-self-entered behavior/ actions- when I feel this resentment?

2. Selfish: Thinking about myself- self-centered thoughts/motives/ attitudes- when I feel this resentment?

3. Dishonest: Misrepresenting myself or reality - lying/ omitting/ deluding - when I feel this resentment?

4. Afraid: Fear of not getting what I want or losing what I have -when I feel this resentment?

5. Where am I wrong/ at fault/ to blame/ responsible for my feelings/behavior -when I feel this
resentment? Then - my contribution to the original event?
NOW - my current reaction to
person/ event?
6.What feeling/ harm did I cause this person? Pick from these options - what is the actual negative impact of my
actions on:
Physical (Body) Mental (Mind)
Emotional (Feelilgs) Spiritual(Relationw/God)
Financial (Money/ Time) Other negative impacts
7. What harm did I cause to other people, in and around this relationship? Specific negative impact?

8. List any other fears that I've become aware of while completing this worksheet (not already listed):

9. List the character defect(s) that I've become aware of while completing this worksheet:

10. WHY do I hold on to this resenbnent? What is the motive/ benefit/ value to me?

My REAL role in holding on to these negative feelings; it may be the diect opposite of my role above:
I now REALIZE I am

January 1, 2024 29
 Fear Worksheet
Before you begin the worksheet, write and pray a personal version of the Set Aside Prayer:

January 1, 2024 30
 Step 4: Sex Inventory
Before you begin the worksheet, write and pray a personal version of the SetAside Prayer:

Review the facts - We are looking for our motives, and the impact on others of
our actual behavior:
• How did the encounter or relationship begin?
• What happened?
• What's the status now, or how did it end?
Answer these questions:
1. Where had I been selfish? (Thinking about myself)
2. Where had I been dishonest? (By commission or omission)
3. Where had I been inconsiderate?
4. Whom had I hurt?
5. Did I arouse jealousy?
6. Did I arouse suspicion?
7. Did I arouse bitterness?
8. Where was I at fault?
9. What should I have done instead?

The answer to question #9 will help you become conscious of the principles you
already have but are not aware of (or the principles you want to have) that will
guide your future sex motives and behavior. They will form the basis of your "sex
ideal".

January 1, 2024 31
 Final Preparation
for Step Four
Remember the purpose of this process—to identify and remove/haveremoved
the impediments/obstacles to a relationship with that Power deep down inside
us.
Ask yourself where/when you haveexperienced:
• Guilt
• Shame
• Embarrassment
• Dishonesty (Stealing)
• Secrets
• Irresponsibility: financial, relationship, behavior,
family, work

The Twelve and Twelve suggests we also look at violations of moral principles (values)
as expressed in the Seven DeadlySins:
• Pride
• Greed
• Lust
• Gluttony
• Envy
• Anger
• Sloth

After praying the Set Aside prayer spend time reflecting (meditation) oneach of
these items and write out your thoughts, feelings, and memories. Be specific.

It is especially important to be specific about any area/item that you have any
conscious/intuitive awareness of discomfort, embarrassment, and/or resistance
to disclosure.

Err on the side of maximizing rather than minimizing. This is about "rigorous honesty",
about being transparent.This is about removing the sludge in us that blocks us from God.

January 1, 2024 32
 Step Five

Remove OBSTACLES / IMPEDIMENTS

SEX • DISHONESTY
• SECRETS
FEARS • GUILT*
• SHAME *

RESENTMENTS

SELF
* Not in “BigBook”

January 1, 2024 33
 Step Six

DEFECTS OF CHARACTER

Willingness to be changed.

Name Them:
• Resentment
• Fear
• Sex/Dishonesty
• Selfishness

January 1, 2024 34
 What is Personality
Disorder?
From Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, 1994,
commonly referred to as DSM-IV, of the American Psychiatric Association. European
countries use the diagnostic criteria of the World Health Organization.
An enduring pattern of loner experience and behavior that deviates markedly
from the expectation of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset
in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and lends to distress or
impairment.
A personality disorder is a pattern of deviant or abnormal behavior that the
person doesn’t change even though it causes emotional upsets and trouble with other
people at work and in personal relationships. It is not limited to episodes of mental
illness, and it is not caused by drug or alcohol use, head injury, or illness. There are about
a dozen different behavior patterns classified as personality disorders by DSM-IV.
All the personality disorders show up as deviations from normal in one or more of the
following;
• Cognition—perception, thinking, and interpretation of oneself, other people, and
events
• Affectivity—emotional responses (range, intensity, liability, appropriateness)
• Interpersonal functions
• Impulsivity
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) — indicators are:
1. An exaggerated sense self-importance (e.g.. Exaggerates achievements and
talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate
achievements); grandiosity.
2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance beauty, or ideal
love
3. Belief of being “special”; only can be understood by, or should associate with, other
special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. Require excessive admiration
5. Sense of entitlement
6. Selfishness in taking advantage of others to achieve their own ends
7. Lacking empathy
8. Envy of others or belief that others envy them
9. Behaviors or attitudes that are arrogant. haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous

January 1, 2024 35
Enneagram – Samples of
Defects of Character
1. perfectionistic 4. individualistic
rigid/inflexible feelings ofspecial
critical/negative self pity
judgmental self loathing/selfcondemning
angry dominated by feelings
intolerant envy
bitter above the rule
anal alienation fromothers
impatient moody
obsessive aloof
rationalize hopelessness
control victim
tense ungrateful
disrespectful selfindulgent
fear of being wrong withdrawn
harsh
remorseful
dependent
inhibited

2. pride 5. cynical/skeptical
vain glory detached
manipulative loner
smothering avarice (their time,resources,information)
possessive eccentric
needs others to dependonthem fear
martyrcomplex dependent
hypochondria antagonistic
needy overlysensitive
resentful restless
negative pessimistic
two faced emotionallyneedy
ungrateful disdaining
non-supportive

3. grandiose 6. don'ttrustthemselves
arrogant fear based
competitive sloth
overachievers fear of beingalone
image conscious rebellious
insensitive fearofothers
feelingworthless self doubt/unsure
chameleon/phony passive —aggressive
self deceit procrastinate
imagevs.substance selfdefeating
jealous overreactive
dishonest excitable
lackofintegrity anxious
self centered miserly
driven suspicious
braggart insecure
emotionallyunavailable blaming
deceit of others defensive
irresponsible pessimism

January 1, 2024 36
Enneagram – Samples of
Defects of Character
7. superficial 9. complacent
easilybored stubborn
impulsive passive
escapist neglectful
restless/nervous repressed
fearofdeprivation slothful
gluttony -convulsed to fill up with fatalistic
food/experience etc. denial
hyper active/need forexcitement aggressive
destructive dependent
anxious given tofantasy
irresponsible self neglect
blaming simplistic
insecure rigid
overlydramatic compliant
materialistic vicarious
undisciplined asleep
self centered selfdeprecating
need for immediategratification fickle
reckless shallow
pessimistic
powerless
Shunning
fearofchange
inattentive
weak
lazy
8. Hardhearted #8, 9, 1 – Anger based
ruthless #5, 6, 7 – Fear based
control #2, 3, 4 – Shame / Dishonesty based
aggressive
lust (sex, power)
very willful
intimidate
abusive
seek/needpower
aggressive
violent
fear of beingweak
independent
fear of being controlled
self centered
fear of fear
controlling
proud
unaffectionate
uncaring
takesall thecredit
disrespectful
impulsive
passionate
Unloving

January 1, 2024 37
Character Defects Worksheet
Before you begin the worksheet, write and pray a personal version of the Set Aside Prayer:

January 1, 2024 38
 Step Seven

SHORT COMINGS

• Powerless to remove

• Pray for removal

• Be accountable for
behavior

January 1, 2024 39
 Step Eight

LIST HARMS
Negative impact of my behavior on persons or
institutions

1. Who did I diminish?

2. What did I do?

3. What harm did I cause?

4. What specific actions are necessary for me:

* to change behavior?
* to repair the damage to others?

5. Am I willing?

January 1, 2024 40
 Step Nine

AMENDS PROCESS

1. Describe harms

2. Ask: "Any other harms?“

3. Suggest amends

4. Ask: "Any other amends?"

January 1, 2024 41
 Forgiveness is a Process
Not an Event
A forgiving person has no past. An unforgiving person has no future.

What is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is Not to…
• Condone
• Forget
• Tolerate
• Ignore
• Approve
• Excuse
• Minimize
• Pardon
• Deny
• Absolve
• Reconcile
• Invite to hurtagain
• Surrender justice
Forgiveness Is a Decision to not…
• Retaliate
• Exact revenge
• Seek compensation
• Judge
Forgiveness Is a Decision to…
• Release them
• Release ourselves
• Be released

What is the Forgiveness process?

Name it. Accept the facts: Betrayal = it did happen; I washurt.
Open your mind, memories and heart to remember the hurts, the wounds, where and when you
have been let down, dishonored, abused, lied to, cheated on; diminished in spirit and emotion;
diminished physically and financially.
Bring to your mind, to your memory and to your heart a picture of the betrayer; your father,
mother, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, brother, sister, relative, friend; have you been
betrayed by your school, church, the judicial system, healthcare system, legal system, the
government? January 1, 2024 42
 Be willing to decide to
release them and myself:
This is the reality—it did happen—we have been betrayed, hurt and deeply wounded. Name itandaccept
it. It’s tragic and it’s true.

Understand it. I had hopes and expectations. They were not met. Accept the facts of the process of forgiveness: I can be healed
from these soul wounds. The process begins when I decide to release them and myself; to release my current feelings about the
events of my past.

 To forgive is not to condone or excuse t he behavior. What was done waswrong.

 To forgive is not to pardon—that’s not mine to give—I don’t have the power toabsolve .

 To forgive is not to forget. I am saddened by the memory, must grieve the event, and resolve to never let it happen again.

 To forgive is to release from debt; to release from the demand for retributionor retaliation.

 To forgive is to surrender the right to get even; to release my current feelings about my past “rights”.

Identify the rules. My beliefs – My “unenforceable” rules.

 To forgive them is to take responsibility for my part, which may only be that I have been holding onto these memories,
these feelings, and have allowed them to continue to devastate my physical, emotional and spiritual life. Am I willing to
acknowledge my beliefs, my unrealistic rules, my naive expectations? Am I willing to release my feelings about the event?

Acknowledgereality. To forgive myself is to experience my regret, remorse, sorrow for who I’ve been, how I’ve acted, and
how I hurt others – and to commit to change my behavior. Am I willing to release my feelings and assume a new attitude?

 The reality is that as long as I hold onto these hurts, they possess me; actually, they poison me physically, emotionally, and
spiritually.

Accept responsibility . How long am I going to carry these wounds? How long am I going to be shackled to this garbage barge of
memories of hurt, anger and shame?

 All spiritual traditions believe that I am forgiven just to the extent that I forgive; all spiritual traditions believe that I am
released just to the extent I releaseothers.

 Look at my own brokenness— the many betrayals for which I have been responsible. Look at my motives, my role, in the
events in which I find myself betrayed. Where was I selfish, self-seeking, dishonest, angry or afraid?
 In light of my own brokenness, look at their brokenness— see them like me— those that hurt me are themselves hurt,
fearful,wounded,sick people— human beings twisted by their own personal histories.

 Embrace compassion both for them and for my self: they have suffered; they act out of their suffering. I have suffered; I act
out of my suffering.

January 1, 2024 43
 Forgiveness is the release of
others and the harm they have
caused us.
 I am a weak,wounded human being, full of defects—attempting to survive the difficulties of life and find a little security, peace and
happiness.
 Forgiveness is the release of others and my feelings about the harm they have caused me. The truth is forgiveness often follows deep
acceptance of and repentance for my own harmful actionsto others.

Make a decision. I am powerless to name and acceptthe truth of the harm I have done; I am likewise powerless to release the memories
of the hurt others have done to me.

 Despite this powerlessness,I have a responsibility to decide not to live in the past. I have a responsibility to decide to live in the present,
to acceptreality as it is – not as it “should be” or as I wantit.

Implementdecision. Am I willing to embrace the process and release them.

Take action. Am I willing to pray for the power:

 To ask for knowledge of thetruth?

 To ask for freedom from the bondage of my own history?

 To wish for the spiritual healing of those persons, institutions, or events that haveharmed me?

 To forgive myself—to let go of self-condemnation, morbid reflection, remorse, my temper, my addictions, my vanities, my
arrogance, my smugness, my victim stance;to let go of my failures, to do whatI must and become who I really am?

 To change my attitude and myactions?

Am I willing to pray for the power:

 To love them as I want to beloved?

 To see the world and the people in it from God’s point of view? To see and acceptreality? To identify and release my “unenforceable
rules”?

 To act better than Ifeel?

Invite the healing Spirit of the Universe:

 Into my mind—that my memories may be healed
 Into my heart—that my feelings may be healed
 Into my soul—that my human spirit may be healed and flourish

Healing Spirit of theUniverse:

 Enable me to be willing to let go and to forgive: to release and tobe released
 Enable me to be willing to be restored to sanity – to healthy thinking
 Enable me to be willing to be taken to a place of serenity – to acceptreality as it is
 Enable me to be willing to find freedom – to actwith the intention of compassion and loving kindness

Holy Spirit, breathe Your Loving Spirit into me.

 Enable me to live from a vision of being tender love and a witness to the benefits ofhope.

January 1, 2024 44
 Bedevilments are
Transformed into the Promises
THE BEDEVILMENTS THE PROMISES
(page 52) (pages 83 & 84)
• We were having trouble with • We will lose interest in selfish
personal relations. things and gain interest In our
fellow.
Self-seeking will slip away.
• We couldn’t controlour • We will comprehend the word
emotional natures. serenity and we will know peace.

• We were prey to misery and • Our whole attitude and outlook

depression. upon life willchange.

• We couldn’t make a living. • Fear of people and economic

insecurity will leaveus.

• We had a feelingof • That feeling ofuselessness and

uselessness. self-pity will disappear.

• We were full of fear. • We will intuitively know how to

handle situations that used to
baffle us.

• We were unhappy • We are going to know a new

freedom and a new happiness.

• We couldn’t seem to be of • No matter how far down the scale

real help to other people. we have gone, we will see how
our experience can benefit others.
We will not regret the past nor
wish to shut the door on it.

• And, most of all. • We will suddenly realize that God

is doing for us what we could not
do for ourselves.
From Big Book Awakening: Dan Sherman
January 1, 2024 45
 Our WAY of Life
Step Ten

MIND

Recovered

Physical
Sobriety
January 1, 2024 46
 Step Ten

Watch for being “disturbed”:

Resentment
Fear
Dishonesty
Selfishness

When crop up - take action

… “on the spot”:
Pray
Discuss
Amend
Help someone

Results:
Forgiveness
Trust
Honesty
Helpful

Emotional
Sobriety
January 1, 2024 47
 Our WAY of Life

Step Eleven Step Twelve

Prayer & Meditation Carry Message
Practice Principles

OTHER Others
CENTERED Centered

SPIRITUAL COIN

Spiritual Sobriety

January 1, 2024 48
 Prayer and Meditation

Evening — Inventory today? Radar sweep !

Morning — Think about the day ahead: Do?

— Consider your plans: Be?
— LISTEN for guidance? GPS*
* God Positioning System

All Day — Be awake and aware

— Pause when "disturbed"
— Be conscious of Presence
— Take corrective action
— INTENT is ALIGNMENT!

January 1, 2024 49
 Evening

• Purpose: Identify and remove obstacles to the Sunlight of theSpirit.

• Set-AsidePrayer
• God, please set aside everything that I think I know about myself,
my unmanageability, my spiritual path and You, for an open mind and a
new experience of myself, my unmanageability, my spiritual path and
especially You!
• Meditation:
1. CONSTRUCTIVELY review my day (without fear or favor)
a) Was I What motives were underneath my:
a) Resentful? Intention?
b) Selfish? Thoughts?
c) Dishonest? Efforts?
d) Afraid?
ACTIONS?

a) Do I owe an apology?
b) Have I kept something to myself which should be discussed with another
person at once?
c) Was I kind and loving toward all?
d) What could I have done better?
e) Was I thinking of myself most of the time?
f) Or was I thinking of what I could do for others, of what I could pack into the
stream of life?
2. Ask God's forgiveness!
3. Ask what corrective measures should be taken.

January 1, 2024 50
 Evening
(continued)

4. Thank God for blessings received!

5. Be willing to try again tomorrow!
6. Conclude with a modified version of Prayer of St.Francis

Spirit of the Universe …

Make me a channel of thy peace;
That where there is hatred … I may bring love;
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.
Please 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;
It is by dying … that one awakens … to this life.
Amen!

January 1, 2024 51
 Morning

Prayer
• Set-Aside Prayer
God, please set aside everything that I think
I know about myself, my unmanageability, my spiritual path and You,
for an open mind and a new experience of myself, my unmanageability, my spiritual
path, and especially You!
• Step Three Prayer
God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness, to those I would help,
of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always!
Reading (Lectio Divina) Inspirational reading (Big Book, Scripture, etc.).
Preparation
• Is my attitude one of prayerful attention?
• What is my purpose?:
1. To improve my conscious contact with God.
2. To enhance my usefulness to others.
3 To develop humility: makes it possible to receiveGod's help.
. is God—"As Iunderstand…"?:
• Who
• Is God:
EVERYTHING?
ALL KNOWLEDGE?

January 1, 2024 52
 Morning
(continued)

3. ALL POW ER?

4. ALL LOVE?
5. ALL PRESENCE?
• Where is God? Do I believe God is deep down inside of me?
Meditation Use our mind to create our vision of God's will for us: My Attention
• God, please direct my thinking; especially divorce it from motives of:
Selfishness Resentment
Self-Seeking Fear
Self-Pity Dishonesty
Please clear my thinking of wrong motives.
Allow me to be attentive:

• Think about the 24 hours ahead(doing). What will I do?

• Consider my plans for the day(being). Who will I be?
• Envision my vision of God's will for me today(intent).
How can I best serveYou? What is my vision?
• Decide to relax and take it easy; to stopstruggling. What action issuggested?
Contemplation (*) Use our will to be present to the Presence of God: My Intention.
Acknowledge and embrace theMystery.
Allow the Spirit to guide you and have its way with you.
Respond from your heart. Open, receptiveand undefended.
Be conscious of yourintention.
Consent to the action of Love; be willing tobe transformed.
(*) not in the Big Book – summary of Centering Prayer,a contemplative practice.

January 1, 2024 53
 Morning
(continued)

Concluding Prayer
Please: Please give me:
Show me all through the day what my next step is to be. KNOWLEDGE
Give me whatever I need to take care of tasks and POWER
problems.
FREEDOM
Especially free me fromSELF-WILL.
LOVE
Show me the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness, and love.
COMPASSION
Allow today's WORK to provide an opportunity to be useful and
helpful. What can I do today for the person who is still
suffering?
Step Seven Prayer
My Creator,
I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character that stands in the way
of my usefulness to You and my fellows.
Grant me strength as I go out from here to do Your bidding.
Amen!

January 1, 2024 54
 All Day

• Pray for Knowledge and Power

• PAUSE frequently – when agitated or doubtful: ask for the right:

Thought
Or
Action

• Many times a day humbly say “Thy will be done” :

• Consent to Presence!

• THINK what you can DO for others! : Be helpful!

January 1, 2024 55
 Step Twelve

SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

Radical CHANGE:
• Think
• Feel
• Behave

… it is done to us …
…not by us, but …
…not without us!

January 1, 2024 56
 Step Twelve

Carry This Message Immunization

Practice These Principles Integration

• Significant Relationship

• Family

• Work

• Fellowship / Community

January 1, 2024 57
 Working with Others*
1. Find a person (addict*) who wants to recover (proactively search out).
2. Find out all you can about them in order to put yourself in their place:
• Indirectly, from a person close to them (their family)
• Directly from the problem person. Share yourself with them, especially
attempt identification with addiction experiences
3. Ask them if they want to quit for good and are ready to go to any
extreme to do so.
4. Stress the hopelessness. Relate your specific experience with
the physical allergy and the mental obsession. Help this person
connect their experience to powerlessness with addiction. Let them
draw their own conclusion.

5. Tell them exactly what happened to you; stress the spiritual.They

need to be willing to believe in a Power greater than themselves
and to live by spiritual principles (but no specific dogma).
6. Be sane, quiet and full of human understanding.
7. Outline the program of action:
• Inventory
• Amends
• Daily prayer and meditation
• Helping others
8. Tell them about the Fellowship. Tell them that if they want to get
well you will do anything to help.
9. If they are sincerely interested; give them the Big Book and ask
them to read it.
10. Share your practical experience with the Steps. Make
yourself available for the Third and Fifth Steps (and Seventh
if requested).
11. Help them get a job, give them a little financial assistance, or
provide shelter in your home. Help but do not enable. Recovery is
not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon the person's
relationship with God.
12. "Your job now is to be at the place where you may be
of maximum helpfulness to others" (page102).

*Modified to include all addictions

January 1, 2024 58
 Profile of a Sponsor*
• Has had a spiritual awakening: a change in their thinking, feeling, and especially in their behavior
• Appears to have what you want
• Has a sponsor to whom they hold themselves accountable
• Willing to allocate time: meet; return calls; work Steps
• Has knowledge and experience with Big Book; has completedSteps
• Goes to meetings; has a home group
• Operates their life based on spiritual principles
• Genuinely wants to be helpful
• Has a positive attitude
• Has a consistent, daily Prayer and Meditation practice
• Listens; is patient; has common sense
• Has a personal life that is attractive: relationships; work; fun
• Shares experience and knowledge; not opinions
• Has some humility; acknowledges l imitations
• Is confidential andtrustworthy
• Embraces anonymity: theirs and yours
• Respects: does not guilt or shame
• Minimizes conversations about outside issues
• Willing to admit mistakes; knows their own limitations; undefended
• Interested in you having your own experience; not theirs
• Is inclusive; wants to be helpful; open to outside resources:medication; therapy; other professional interventions
• Familiar with Traditions,Concepts and Twelve Step History
• Knows the sponsor role is not:
 Parent
 Judge
 Therapist/MD/Rx
 Teacher
 Hotel
 Disciplinarian
 Employer
 Attorney
• Is NOT an enabler; competitive; invested/attached;controlling; manipulative
• Is honest; non-judgmental;tolerant;patient; compassionate;encouraging; flexible
• Makes suggestions, not rules/requirements/mandates
• Does not protect you from consequencesof your actions
• Is a guide, mentor, coach, cheerleader, and an accountabilitypartner
• Is a role model: as a healthy human being
• Sees role: to be helpful/useful; a lantern, not the light
• Walks the walk!
• And most of all: Enjoys their sobriety!!

*Input from “Twelve Step Sponsorship” Hamilton B (Hazelden) and from attendees at various workshops.

January 1, 2024 59
 Principles*
1. HONESTY: Facing and accepting the facts, the objective truth about reality. Conduct is fair and straight
forward; means uprightness of character or action. Honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, deceive in any way.
Action: CONCEDE “powerlessness” to our innermost self – to surrender/admit defeat.
2. FAITH/HOPE: A decision to believe and have complete confidence in God/HP/power-other-than-self, without
logical proof or material evidence. To desire with expectation of fulfillment, to long for with expectation of
obtainment, to expect with desire; desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.
Action: DECISION ABOUT “IT” – our concept.
3. TRUST: A decision for a covenant, an arrangement, by which something is transferred with assurance to
someone with confidant expectation of the proper use for a specified purpose; to commit to the care of
someone's management; to confer a commission confidently; outward conduct is governed by implicit
confidence and dependence on goodness and reliability of the recipient of this trust.
Action: DECISION TO TURN to be in alignment with “IT”; LIVE as if “IT” is real – our relationship.
4. COURAGE: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty; courage
implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty; willingness to face and accept the
truth.
Action: NAME/ANALYZE the obstacles in us to our relationship with “IT” – to see and accept the truth.
5. INTEGRITY: An unimpaired condition; soundness; adherence to a code of moral, artistic, or other values; the
quality or state of being complete or undivided.
Action: CONFESSION/REVELATION of all obstacles/secrets – to prepare for removal.
6. WILLINGNESS: Inclined or favorably disposed in mind; ready; prompt to act or respond without reluctance; or
relating to the will or power of choosing.
Action: MAKE A LIST of our defects of character/shortcomings – to prepare for removal.
7. HUMILITY: Quality or state of being truthful; unpretentious, modest, not proud or haughty; not arrogant or
assertive; reflecting, expressing, or offered in the spirit of deference or submission; having a balanced, objective
perspective.
Action: PRAYER/ACCOUNTABILITY – to request removal.
8. COMPASSION: Sorrow for the sufferings caused to others; a person's concern that freely seeks the good of
another.
Action: MAKE A LIST of harms done by us to others – to identify them.
9. JUSTICE: The maintenance or administration of that which conforms to law, especially spiritual; honorable and
fair dealing of persons with each other.
Action: CHANGE behavior; REPAIR damage; embrace FORGIVENESS process.
10. VIGILANCE: Watchfulness; keeping awake and alert, especially to feelings of being “disturbed”. These ill-at-
easiness feelings are signals that we are in self-will and out of alignment with reality, as-it-actually-is. When we
begin to exercise self-regulation, we correct our behavior, mold our mental faculties, and improve our moral
character.
Action: Daily PRACTICE of awareness of feelings, using “spot check inventory” when disturbed, and
applying the suggested remedy for emotional re-alignment: pray; talk; amend; help – which develops
our CONSCIENCE.
11. AWARENESS: Having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge; implies attentiveness in observing or
alertness in drawing inferences and direction from what one thinks, feels, sees or hears; developing our
mindfulness.
Action: Daily PRACTICE of prayer and meditation - which improves our CONSCIOUSNESS.
12. ALTRUISM/LOVE: Devotion to the welfare of others; behavior done solely for the benefit of others; to be useful.
Action: Daily PRACTICE of helping – which enlarges our COMPASSION.

*PRINCIPLES: Foundational truths: core values which regulate moral behavior.

January 1, 2024 60
 Dynamics of Twelve Steps
Reflects the two functions that make us specifically human:

WILL MIND
DECIDE / ACTION KNOW / NAME

1. Concede powerlessness 2. Name Higher Power

3. Decide for relationship 4. Name obstacles

5. Disclose fully 6. Name defects

7. Pray for removal 8. Name harms

9. Change behavior /
repair damage 10. Name/correct disturbances

11. Improve conscious contact: Prayer / Meditation

12. Enlarge conscious contact: Message / Principles

Spiritual Sobriety
January 1, 2024 61
 Twelve Step Program

 Meetings = Identify Problem / Solution

 Big Book = Instruction Manual / Textbook

 12 Steps = Precise Process / Method/ Path

 Prayer & Meditation = Power & Guidance

 Message & Principles = Awakening &

Practice of Contrary Actions

 Sponsorship* = Steps
Guide/ Mentor / Accountability Partner

*Word “sponsor” is not in Big Book (Title Page to Page164)

January 1, 2024 62
 Process NOT Event

Integration

BODY MIND WILL

Physical Emotional Spiritual
Sobriety Sobriety Sobriety

Disintegration

BODY MIND WILL

Allergy Obsession Umanage-
ability
Craving Delusion Malady

January 1, 2024 63
 Spiritual Awakening
TURNING

From To
Dis-ease At - ease
Addiction: Substance / Process Abstinence / Moderation
Anger / Resentment Love / Forgiveness
Fear / Anxiety Trust / Tranquility
Inappropriate Sex Behavior Guided by Principles
Dishonesty: Self / Others Rigorous Honesty
Secrets Transparency
Guilt / Shame Freedom
Unhealthy Self-Esteem Healthy Self-Worth
Willfulness Willingness

MY WILL MY WILL
out of alignment in alignment
with reality with reality
January 1, 2024 64
 Our PATH to ...

TURNING: WILLINGNESS + GRACE !

World of self World of SPIRIT

 

Steps 1-9 Steps 10-12

 

Optimal Recovery Optimal LIVING

 

FREEDOM HAPPINESS

January 1, 2024 65
 A Chinese Legend

Look at that curve in the River of Ch'i

With the green bamboos so luxuriant.
The Book of Songs (Waley)
Once upon a time, in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay
a beautiful garden. And there in the cool of the day was the Master
of the Garden wont to walk. Of all the denizens of the garden, the
most beautiful and most beloved was a gracious and noble
bamboo. Year after year, Bamboo grew yet more noble and
gracious, conscious of his Master's love and watchful delight, but
modest and gentle withal. And often, when wind came to revel in
the garden, Bamboo would cast aside his grave stateliness, to
dance and play right merrily, tossing and swaying and leaping and
bowing in joyous abandon, leading the Great Dance of the Garden
which most delighted the Master's heart.
Now upon a day, the Master himself drew near to-
contemplate his Bamboo with eyes of curious expectancy. And
Bamboo, in a passion of adoration, bowed his great head to the
ground in loving greeting. The Master spoke: "Bamboo, Bamboo, I
would use thee.”
Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight. The day
of days had come, the day for which he had been made, the day to
which he had been growing hour by hour, the day in which he would
find his completion and his destiny. His voice came low: "Master, I
am ready. Use me asthou wilt."
"Bamboo"--the Master's voice was grave--"I would fain take
thee and--cut thee down!"
A trembling of a great horror shook Bamboo. "Cut . . me
down? Me . . whom thou, Master, hast made the most beautiful in
all thy garden . . to cut me down! Ah, not that, not that. Use me for
thy joy, 0 Master, but cut me not down!"
"Beloved Bamboo"--the Master's voice grew graverstill--"if I
cut thee not down, I cannot use thee."

January 1, 2024 66
 A Chinese Legend
(continued)

The garden grew still. Wind held his breath. Bamboo slowly
bent his proud and glorious head. There came a whisper: "Master, if
thou canst not use me but thou cut me down . . then . . . do thy will and
cut."
"Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would . . cut thy leaves and
branches from thee also."
"Master, Master, spare me. Cut me down and lay my beauty in
the dust; but wouldst thou take from me my leaves and branches also?"
"Bamboo, alas, if I cut them not away, I cannot use thee."
The sun hid his face. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away.
And Bamboo shivered in terrible expectancy, whispering low: "Master,
cut away."
"Bamboo, Bamboo, I would yet . . . cleave thee in twain and cut
out thine heart, for if I cut not so, I cannot use thee."
Then was Bamboo bowed to the ground. "Master, Master . .
then cut and cleave."
So did the Master of the garden take Bamboo and cut him
down and hack off his branches and strip off his leaves and cleave him
in twain and cut out his heart. And lifting him gently, carried him to where
was a spring of fresh, sparkling water in the midst of his dry fields. Then
putting one end of broken Bamboo in the spring and the other end into
the water channel in his field, the Master laid down gently his beloved
Bamboo. And the spring sang welcome and the clear sparkling waters
raced joyously down the channel of Bamboo's torn body into the
waiting fields. Then the rice was planted, and the days went by, and the
shoots grew and the harvest came.
In that day was Bamboo, once so glorious in his stately beauty,
yet more glorious in his brokenness and humility. For in his beauty he was
life abundant, but in his brokenness he became a channel of abundant life to
his Master's world.
In the Shadow of Nine Dragons, Eric Hague. London: Highway Press, 1958.

January 1, 2024 67
 Prayer of St. Francis of
Assisi
"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;
That where there is hatred, I may bring love;
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 beunderstood;
To love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds;
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven;
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen"

January 1, 2024 68
 Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Was grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come.
Tis grace that brought me safe thus far;
And grace will lead me home.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we'd first begun.

January 1, 2024 69
January 1, 2024 70
Our WAY of L I V I N G

CLEAN House

Twelve Steps to
AWAKENING
January 1, 2024 71