AA Beginners Group

Welcome to the
AA Beginners Group
12 Step Workshop

My name is __________.
My last drink was on ____________.

Alcoholism is a compulsive, obsessive and progressive disease affecting us physically, mentally, and spiritually, with symptoms such as blackouts, liver problems, depression, anxiety, horrible feelings, and various medical problems. All of this adds to the unmanageability that drinking may cause.

Join me in a moment of silence for those who are struggling with the disease of alcoholism...

The Serenity Prayer God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

(Have a volunteer read the AA Preamble)

A.A. Preamble

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their
experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common
problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.

There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our
own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics,
organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy,
neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Copyright The AA Grapevine, Inc. Reprinted with permission

(Anonymity is our spiritual foundation. Please keep names and discussion confidential.
Anything that the leader or any other member says is only their opinion.
No one person can speak on behalf of the entire worldwide fellowship of 2 million people.)

The next section "First Things First" was developed from the Publication "Suggestions For Leading Beginners Meetings" published by the A.A. General Service Conference. It is available at aa.org's bookstore.

First Things First

When we first come to A.A., many of us do not realize the first drink triggers the compulsion to drink more and more; it deludes us into thinking we can drink another safely, then another and another. How do we avoid just that first drink for at least one day? Here are some suggestions:

The twenty-four hour plan. Dont pick up a drink for 24 hours. Dont worry about tomorrow. Just focus on not picking up the 1st drink today. You cant get drunk if you dont pick up the 1st drink.
Ask God or Higher Power for help to stay sober today.
Goto AA Meetings on a regular basis.
Take the 12 Steps of AA with a sponsor.
Read the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. You can buy one or get it free on PDF at www.aa.org.
Change your routines or travel routes during drinking hours.
If you have a compulsion or urge to drink, postpone it and call someone in AA.
Exchange phone numbers with sober people in chat box.

Let's go around the room and introduce ourselves Can you answer the following points... First name? How long have you been sober? Share a little about why you came AA What is your view on God or a Power greater than yourself?

We have a way that helped us to stop drinking and live
happy, joyous and free from alcohol.

(Ask each person these questions.)

Do you want that?

To what lengths are you willing to go to get it?

"If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any lengths to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps." AA p.58

Sponsorship Story

Example of Dr. Bob sponsoring someone after only 3 weeks.

A small portion of the story, "HE SOLD HIMSELF SHORT," AA page 262-3
      I stayed in Akron two or three weeks on my initial trip trying to absorb as much of the program and philosophy as possible. I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Bob, whenever he had the time to spare, and in the homes of two or three other people, trying to see how the family lived the program. Every evening we would meet at the home of one of the members and have coffee and doughnuts and spend a social evening.
      The day before I was due to go back to Chicago, it was Dr. Bob's afternoon off, he had me to the office and we spent three or four hours formally going through the Six-Step program as it was at that time. The six steps were:

      1. Complete deflation.
      2. Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power.
      3. Moral inventory.
      4. Confession.
      5. Restitution.
      6. Continued work with other alcoholics.

      Dr. Bob led me through all of these steps. At the moral inventory, he brought up several of my bad personality traits or character defects, such as selfishness, conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance, illtemper, sarcasm, and resentments. We went over these at great length, and then he finally asked me if I wanted these defects of character removed. When I said yes, we both knelt at his desk and prayed, each of us asking to have these defects taken away.
      This picture is still vivid. If I live to be a hundred, it will always stand out in my mind. It was very impressive, and I wish that every A.A. could have the benefit of this type of sponsorship today. Dr. Bob always emphasized the religious angle very strongly, and I think it helped. I know it helped me. Dr. Bob then led me through the restitution step, in which I made a list of all of the persons I had harmed and worked out the ways and the means of slowly making restitution.

Several takeaways from this example:

After only 2 or 3 weeks, they went through all these steps.
It was a formal process lasting a few hours.
There was a list of character defects, ie: selfishness, conceit, jealousy, carelessness, intolerance, illtemper, sarcasm... (we will use a similar list in Step 4.)
Kneeling and praying.
The mention of "this type of sponsorship" is very important.
There are other forms of sponsorship in practice today.
A list for the purpose of restitution (making amends) was developed from this formal process.

Where we get information is based on our sponsorship lineage.
We can trace this information all the way back to Dr Bob.

AA p. xvii. It also indicated that strenuous work, one alcoholic with another, was vital to permanent recovery. strenuous - means with great effort or vigor vital - means necessary to sustain permanent - means lasting Watch to see how these words are used in one sentence later in Step 4.

The Twelve Steps
Of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

This form of sponsorship ideally suggests that we take the first 9 steps once
and then live in the Maintenance Steps 10, 11 & 12.

All the steps are listed on pages 59 & 60.
Page numbers are provided where the instructions for
these steps can be found in the Big Book.
If you want to mark these pages in your book, you can.

Green Highlights - Actual instructions and points of emphasis

Red Highlights - Words with deeper meaning - maybe look up definitions

Blue Highlights - Prayers

Suggestion - In your book highlight everything else in Yellow.

Everyone should take turns reading.

Each paragraph has something important to look at.

Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.
(Ask each person for their brief view on this step.)

AA Page 30, paragraph 2, lines 1-4 paragraph 3, lines 1-3

We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed. We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking. We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.

AA, p. 44, paragraph 1, lines 4-9

If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.

AA, p. 45, paragraph 1, lines 1-4 paragraph 2, lines 1-3

Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, thats exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem.

AA, p. 59, lines 2-3

But there is One who has all power, that One is God. May you find him now!

Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

AA, p. 33

Commencing to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time, as bad as ever.
It is a peculiar mental twist which renders us helpless against resisting alcohol.

AA, p. 35

We are looking at a mental states that precede a relapse into drinking.

AA, p. 37

But there was always the curious mental phenomenon that parallel with our sound reasoning
there inevitably ran some insanely trivial excuse for taking the first drink. Our sound
reasoning failed to hold us in check.

How do we get past this?

AA, p. 60

The Big Book indicates that probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism
and that God could and would if He were sought.

AA, p. 12, paragraph 3

My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. He said, Why don't you choose your own conception of God? It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning.

AA, p. 12, last paragraph into page 13

For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God. There had been a humble willingness to have Him with me - and He came. There I humbly offered myself to God (step 3), as I then understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing (steps 1 & 2); that without Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins (steps 4 & 5) and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch (steps 6 & 7). I have not had a drink since.

AA, p. 20, middle of 2nd paragraph

We have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking - What do I have to do? It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. (Feel free to ask questions at any time.)

AA, p. 42, paragraph 3, lines 1-2

Quite as important was the discovery that spiritual principles would solve all my problems. Even so has God restored us all to our right minds. Some of us grow into it more slowly. But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him He disclosed Himself to us!

(Ask each person these questions.)
Questions!
Do you want to drink?
When was the last time you wanted to drink?
When did you feel like not wanting to drink?

Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

AA, p. 60, paragraph 3, paragraph 4, lines 1-2

The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.

AA, p. 62, paragraph 1 & 3, lines 1-2

Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. This is the how and the why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work.

AA, p. 62, paragraph 3, lines 2-8

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.

AA, p. 63, paragraph 1

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.

AA, p. 63, paragraph 2

We were now at Step Three. We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: 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!

Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

AA, p. 63, last sentence into p. 64

Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our (3rd Step) decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face (steps 4 & 5), and be rid of (steps 6 & 7), the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. (From God p.71)

Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory. This was Step Four.

To complete this step, you will need some paper and a pen.
We will construct 3 different charts.

First - Flaws in our make-up. Self manifested in Various Ways.
Second - Resentment and Fears
Third - Sex Inventory

First, we searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure. Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations.

(On a piece of paper, make 3 columns and write these words in the first column)

Flaws
self-indulgence
self-pity
self-justification
self-importance
self-condemnation
impatience
false pride
laziness
procrastination
criticism
insincerity
dishonesty - lying, stealing, cheating
rationalization
indecision/worry
conceit
carelessness
intolerance
sarcasm
anger (resentment)
envy
jealousy
greed
lust
hate
revenge
suspicion
fear

This list can be found throughout the texts of the AA Big Book and 12 & 12.
Although, we don't really use the 12 & 12 in this workshop.
It is simply a source where you can find info on this defect of character.
Another source would be Webster's Dictionary, if you don't know what these words mean.

self-indulgence	AA p67,86,134,135,160, 263	12x12 p48 gluttony
self-pity	AA p61,62,84,86,116,127	12x12 p47,52
self-justification	AA p62,67,86,116,127	12x12 p45,46,48,54
self-importance	AA p61,67,69,73,86,116	12x12 p51
self-condemnation	AA p86	12x12 p45,52
impatience	AA p138	12x12 p53 manipulation
false pride	AA p61,73,116,181	12x12 p44,47,48,51
laziness	AA	12x12 p48 sloth p49
procrastination	AA p79	12x12 p49,51
criticism	AA p77,118,125,127,145	12x12 p53
insincerity	AA p73	12x12
dishonesty	AA p61,69,80,84,86,116,145	12x12 p51
rationalization	AA p64-65,99-100	12x12 p47 alibis
indecision/worry	AA p86,116,155	12x12 p52
conceit	AA p263	12x12 p51 abilities
carelessness	AA p263	12x12 p51
intolerance	AA p103,135,160, 263	12x12 p49 demands
sarcasm	AA p125,263	12x12 p44 cold snub
anger	AA p65,84,86,108,135,145,263	12x12 p44,48,49,52
envy	AA p145	12x12 p48,49 covet
jealousy	AA p69,82,119,145,263	12x12 p44
greed	AA	12x12 p48,49 covet p51
lust	AA p69,81	12x12 p48
hate	AA p65,69,77,80,103	12x12 p47
revenge	AA p77	12x12 p44,47,53
suspicion	AA p69,146	12x12
fear	AA p62,67,68,73,84,86,116,145	12x12 p49,51

AA p.64 & 65

Resentment is the "number one" offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper.

We listed PEOPLE, INSTITUTIONS or PRINCIPLES with whom we were angry.

The Cause - We asked ourselves why we were angry.

In most cases it was found that our self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships (including sex) were hurt or threatened. So we were sore. We were "burned up." On our grudge list we set opposite each name our injuries. Was it our:

a. Self-esteem
b. Security
c. Ambitions
d. Personal relations
e. Sex relations

Which had been interfered with? We were usually as definite as this example:

Angry At	The Cause	Affects My
1. Mr. Brown	His attention to my wife. Told my wife of my mistress. Brown may get my job at the office.	Sex relations. Self-esteem Sex relations. Self-esteem Security. Self-esteem
2. Mrs. Jones	She's a nut-she snubbed me. She She committed her hus- band for drinking. He's my friend. She's a gossip.	Self-esteem Personal relation- ship. Self-esteem
3. My employer	Unreasonable-Unjust -Overbearing- Threatens to fire me for drinking and padding my ex- pense account.	Self-esteem
4. My wife	Misunderstands and nags. Likes Brown. Wants house put in her name.	Pride-Personal sex relations- Security

AA, p. 66, paragraph 2, lines 1-2

But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the light of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.

If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle. We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how?

This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick.

AA, p. 67

Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. (Prayer) We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend. When a person offended we said to ourselves, This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God Save me from being angry. Thy will be done.

(Right now, pray for everyone on your resentment list.)

We avoid retaliation or argument. We wouldn't treat sick people that way. If we do, we destroy our chance of being helpful. We cannot be helpful to all people, but as least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one.

Referring to our (Flaws) list again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes (Flaws). Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened? Though a situation had not been entirely our fault, we tried to disregard the other person involved entirely. Where were we to blame? The inventory was ours, not the other man's. When we saw our faults we listed them. We placed them before us in black and white. We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight (Step 8).

(Put a name next to each one below. Who did you affect with this behavior?)

Our own mistakes (Flaws)	Whom did I hurt? (Step 8)	(blank for now)
self-indulgence	my oldest son
self-pity	Grandma
self-justification	customer service rep
self-importance	bands
self-condemnation	Jason
impatience	my daughter Stephy
false pride	co-worker Mark
laziness	my customers
procrastination	creditors
criticism	my manager Jason
insincerity	Toni
dishonesty	My Employer
rationalization	my kid's mom
indecision/worry	grandpa
conceit	last relationship
carelessness	traffic in general
intolerance	my son Isayah
sarcasm	clerk Tracy
anger (resentment)	Mr Brown
envy	normal families
jealousy	step brothers
greed	pantry
lust	ex-fiance
hate	Mrs. Jones
revenge	old girlfriend
suspicion	My Wife
fear	old job

Notice that the word FEAR is bracketed alongside the difficulties with Mr. Brown, Mrs. Jones, the employer, and the wife. This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It is an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it.

We reviewed our fears thoroughly. We put them on paper even though we had no resentment in connection with them. We asked ourselves why we had them.

Angry At	The Cause	Affects My	(fear?)	Why we have fear?
1. Mr. Brown	His attention to my wife. Told my wife of my mistress. Brown may get my job at the office.	Sex relations. Self-esteem Sex relations. Self-esteem Security. Self-esteem	(fear) (fear) (fear)	His attention may go too far. She may take things out on her I may be out of work soon.
2. Mrs. Jones	She's a nut-she snubbed me. She She committed her hus- band for drinking. He's my friend. She's a gossip.	Self-esteem Personal relation- ship. Self-esteem	(fear) (fear)
3. My employer	Unreasonable-Unjust -Overbearing- Threatens to fire me for drinking and padding my ex- pense account.	Self-esteem Security	(fear)
4. My wife	Misunderstands and nags. Likes Brown. Wants house put in her name.	Pride-Personal sex relations- Security	(fear)

Are there any fears that are not connected to a resentment?

1. Losing my job
2. Car breaking down
3. Being alone
4. Getting in an accident
5. Not being able to pay the mortgage
6. etc.

Perhaps there is a better way, we think so. For we are now on a different basis, the basis of trusting and relying upon God.

(Prayer) We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what he would have us be.
At once, we commence to outgrow fear.

AA pp. 68 & 69

Now about sex. Many of us needed and overhauling there. But above all, we tried to be sensible on this question. We all have sex problems. We'd hardly be human if we didn't. What can we do about them?

We reviewed our own conduct over the years past. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, or inconsiderate? Whom had we hurt? Did we unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion or bitterness? Where were we at fault, what should we have done instead? We got this all down on paper and we looked at it. In this way we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life. We subjected each relation to this test - was it selfish or not?

(On a separate sheet of paper, we make another list and pose these questions. Last list today, I promise.)

Whom had I hurt?	a. selfish b. dishonest c. inconsiderate d. jealousy e. suspicion f. bitterness	What should I have done instead
1. Ex-fiance	a. b. c. d. e. f.	Stay away
2. 1st Girlfriend	a.	Waited
3. Susie	a. c.	Stay faithful
4.
5.

We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.

Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about still more harm in so doing (Step 8).

In other words, we treat sex as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter. The right answer will come, if we want it.

God alone can judge our sex situation (any other problem). Counsel with persons is often desireable, but we let God be the final judge. We avoid histerical thinking or advice.

AA, pp. 70 & 71

Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are goin to get drunk? Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience.

To sum up about sex: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing. If sex is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves.

If we have been thorough about our personal inventory, we have written down a lot. We have listed and analyzed our resentments. We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can (Step 8).

In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning. That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself.

Step 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

AA, p. 72, paragraph 1

Having made our personal inventory, what shall we do about it? We have admitted certain defects; we have ascertained in a rough way what the trouble is, we have put our finger on the weak items in our personal inventory. Now these are about to be cast out.

AA, p. 75, paragraph 1 & 2

...we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are prepared for a long talk. We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past.
STOP

This is where everyone takes turns sharing one line at a time.
Start with "self-indulgence", then "person's name you hurt",
Then briefly how you hurt that person.
For instance, "Self-indulgence, I hurt my oldest son Anthony
by placing my drinking ahead of his welfare."
Next person shares on "Self-indulgence..." until everyone gets all the way down to "fear".

Our own mistakes (Flaws)	Whom did I hurt? (Step 8)	(blank for now)
self-indulgence	my oldest son
self-pity	Grandma
self-justification	customer service rep
self-importance	bands
self-condemnation	Jason
impatience	my daughter Stephy
false pride	co-worker Mark
laziness	my customers
procrastination	creditors
criticism	my manager Jason
insincerity	Toni
dishonesty	My Employer
rationalization	my kid's mom
indecision/worry	grandpa
conceit	last relationship
carelessness	traffic in general
intolerance	my son Isayah
sarcasm	clerk Tracy
anger (resentment)	Mr Brown
envy	normal families
jealousy	step brothers
greed	pantry
lust	ex-fiance
hate	Mrs. Jones
revenge	old girlfriend
suspicion	My Wife
fear	old job

Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly.

AA, p. 75, paragraph 3

Returning home we find a place where we can be quiet for an hour, carefully reviewing what we have done. We thank God from the bottom of our heart that we know Him better. Taking this book down from our shelf we turn to the page which contains the twelve steps. Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man (person) at last.

Step 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

AA, p. 75, paragraph 3

Is our work solid so far? (Yes or No?)

Are the stones properly in place? (Yes or No?)

Have we skimped on the cement put into the foundation? (Yes or No?)

Have we tried to make mortar without sand? (Yes or No?)

AA, p. 76, paragraph 1

If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.

Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?(Yes or No?)

Can He now take them all - every one?(Yes or No?)

If we still cling to something we will not let go, (Say this Prayer) We ask God to help us be willing.

Step 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. (Step 7 itself is a prayer.)

AA, p. 76, paragraph 2

When ready, we say something like this: 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 which 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. We have then completed Step Seven.

Step 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. AA, p. 76, paragraph 3, lines 1-5 Let's look at Steps Eight and Nine. We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self-appraisal. (See also: p. 67, 69, 70)

Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

RIGHT NOW, fill in your third column together with everyone,
one line at a time. We get ideas from each other, or just use ONE of the words listed.
You only need to pick ONE that makes sense.

DEFECTS OF CHARACTER	Whom did I hurt?	What's the exact opposite of the DEFECT? It must make sense to you. How to make amends?
self-indulgence	my family	discipline, restraint, giving, selflessness
self-pity	Grandparents	helpfulness, compassion
self-justification	co-workers	fairness, empathy, understanding, justice
self-importance	The Courts	modesty, unassuming
self-condemnation	last employer	mercy, positivity, look forward not backward
impatience	slow drivers	patience
false pride	society	humility
laziness	family	action
procrastination	creditors	action now, sense of urgency, proactive
criticism	last manager	positive quality focus, praise, say something good
insincerity	fellow member	sincerity, be real
dishonesty	My employer	honesty, truth, giving back, fairness
rationalization	others	no excuses, owning up, truth, responsibilty
indecision/worry	bus partner	God's inspiration, decision, intuitive thoughts, firm, better decisions
conceit	ex-fiance	equality, humble, not about you
carelessness	old crew	carfulness, caring
intolerance	colleage	tolerance
sarcasm	everyone	kindness, respect
anger	Mr. Brown	peace, let it go, claim your joy, calm
envy	wealthy	gratitude, thankful, admiration
jealousy	competitors	give grace, bless, practice being satisfied, secure, be happy for others
greed	my kids	generosity, volunteer
lust	ex-fiance	shift desire to HP, purity, marriage, commitment, chaste, decency, resist temptation, help others, love, squirrel, truthful
hate	Mrs. Jones	love, empathy, concern, positive action
revenge	old girlfriend	forgiveness, forgive 70 x 7, let it go
suspicion	My Wife	trust, build trust, follow facts, mind my own business, quit looking, don't judge
fear	old Job	faith, hope, courage, perfect love, confidence

All the people we hurt, we now make amends with these spiritual principles listed in our third column. No need to apologize. Just treat them differently.
They deserve better from us.

AA, p. 76, paragraph 3, lines 6-13

Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven't the will to do this, (Prayer) we ask until it comes.

HOMEWORK for LATER - Read pages 76 thru 83. (Study this in depth. More guidance on making amends.)

AA, p. 83 & 84

The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Unless one's family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them. We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters. They will change in time. Our behavior will convince them more than our words. We must remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone.

There may be some wrongs we can never fully right. We don't worry about them if we can honestly say to ourselves that we would right them if we could. Some people cannot be seen - we send them an honest letter. And there may be a valid reason for postponement in some cases. But we don't delay if it can be avoided. We should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping. As God's people we stand on our feet; we don't crawl before anyone.

sensible - we just made sense on how to make amends with spiritual principles
tactful - delicate and sensitive in dealing with others
considerate - careful not to hurt them
humble - respectful and meek
without being servile - we don't become their servant
without being scraping - we don't argue or retaliate or point out their flaws

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way 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 upon life will change. Fear of people and of 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.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.

Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

AA, p. 84, paragraph 2 thru all of page 85

This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. 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 our 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 our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.

And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol. For by this time sanity will have returned. We will seldom be interested in liquor. If tempted, we recoil from it as from a hot flame. We react sanely and normally, and we will find that this has happened automatically. We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part. It just comes! That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality - safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done. These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will.

Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious.

Step 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying for only knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

AA, p. 85 - 87

Step Eleven 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

What used to be the hunch or 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 on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.

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.

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.

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

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. Faith without works is dead. The next chapter is entirely devoted to Step Twelve.

Step 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

AA, p. 89, paragraph 1 and 2

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.

HOMEWORK Read Chapter 7. (Guidance on passing it on.)

You gotta give it away to keep it!

One requirement at this point, pass this on to one other person, the same way it was passed on to you.

This workshop and period of sponsorship is over. God is your sponsor now. He is the only one who has the answers to all your problems or concerns. I am simply a friend.

Do you have any questions?

Remember - you have reading homework

AA pages 76-83 (Step 9 - Amends)
ALL of Chapter 7 Working With Others (Step 12 - Service Work)

Best thing to do:

Highlight your Big Book with all steps we went through.
You can print everything from the website www.aabeginners.com under 12 Step Workshop link.