These are the original 4th step guides and work sheetsused in the dallas b. The book alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known by members as the big book, is the textbook for the original 12 step recovery program now known by the same name. Where are the steps outlinedlaid out in the big book. Whether we come through the doors of alcoholics anonymous or alanon family groups chances are we bring a lifetime of stinking thinking with us. My advice for heading into step 4 is to allow courage to rise and be completely honest with yourself while doing it. Monthly big book readings aa the original way group. Regardless of how we do it the main thing is to watch for fear, anger, dishonesty and selfishness f.
It is an effort to discover the truth about the stockintrade. The addict digs to his or her core being and as they dig, they free themselves from the waste that they collected within, obscuring their judgment. I listed my resentments on paper, but not necessarily in chronological order. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock in trade. If someone has been through the steps, is sober, and wants to do a year long 4th step, then that is great, but it seems dangerous and untrue to tell a still suffering alcoholic that the big book says to do it that way. The steps are in the bb, however, i would suggest having a sponsor to work you through them. Home early sobriety companion 4th step 8th9th step app. The big book is the original source of for step instructions in alcoholics anonymous. Jul 18, 2015 book basic training is a 10 hour video series that carefully walks the viewer through the first 172 pages of the aa big book alcoholics anonymous. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise. The big book serves as the foundation for the alcoholics anonymous 12 step program, the worlds largest alcoholism support group. Joe had been studying the big book since 1962, but since he was an africanamerican man living in little rock, arkansas during that time, he was only allowed to stand in the back of meetings, and.
This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. If you get these 4th step worksheets anywhere else they are likely not the originals and may have been changed or altered. This guide represents the experiences, strengths, and hopes of many addicts who have found recovery in narcotics anonymous. Nov 20, 2019 there is a saying in the 12 step programs that recovery is a process, not an event.
Page 67 of the book, alcoholics anonymous, states, resentment is the number one offender. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. When was the last time you explained to a suffering alcoholic the threefold disease described in this book. At this stage of the inventory proceedings, our sponsors come to the rescue. Outlining the steps and traditions that make aa famous, as well as numerous stories about recovering addicts who have been through the process, the big book has helped guide millions into a life of sobriety. The na book the basic text our symbol simplicity is the keynote of our symbol. There is a detailed instruction sheet that goes with the step 4 inventory forms, from the workshop.
In order for this to happen we must go directly into steps 10, 11 and 12 while doing step 9. Step twelve was changed again in 1956 in the 2 nd printing of the 2 edition. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Whats the biggest requirement for this action step.
The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and admitting to ones faults, weaknesses, defects. Step by step guide for sponsors a companion to aas big book. To personalize the step for your study and action in the here and now, however, you. Step 4 the seven selves alcoholics anonymous aa big book. Steps by the big book step 5 steps by the big book. Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once fast followed by a. Since the overall philosophy of alcoholics anonymous is that alcoholism is just a symptom of a spiritual disease, the real problem is in character flaws that need. This step is described on roman numeral pages 25 32 xxv xxxii, on pages 1 44. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the. The big book is clearwe do this to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to god and our fellow man. In trying to make these arrange ments our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous. Remember that in the context of the big book, selfish doesnt just mean wanting things my way for my own benefit. Step four of aas twelve step program of recovery is infamously the scary one, probably because its a crucial step towards effective and lasting recovery.
We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. Big book step index step 1 we admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. One object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret. This guide has been prepared not as a replacement for or interference to our basic texts the big book and 12 and 12 but as a companion for the ideas and directions presented there. One of the requirements for sobriety is the need for confession of personality defects, a moral inventory, and. We have had a spiritual awakening this is your new outlook on life b. The open space they clear out by making this moral inventory further allows the higher source, spoken about in step 2 and step 3 to take root. A perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book. Nov, 2019 my advice for heading into step 4 is to allow courage to rise and be completely honest with yourself while doing it. The documents represent the views of a number of overeaters anonymous oa members who use the big book as a set of directions for working the twelve steps. All other sources the little red book, the 12 and 12, group sponsored literature were written as accompaniments or guides to be used to assist and deepen the path laid out by the original members of alcoholics anonymous in the big book. The book is published by alcoholics anonymous world services.
Section 7 step four 4th step guide pages out of the big book awakening 12 step workbook book version august, 2006. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol drugs, actingout behaviour, that our lives had become unmanageable. Step two is specifically designed for the mental obsession. There have been numerous reprints and revisions, in addition to translations into dozens of languages. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. Aa big book with questions for discussion emotional. Hear recovered addict and big book mucker, cameron f. Download pamphlets and handouts to use in big book group sessions our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. You are never too old to improve your health and quality of life. As the result of working the steps the result of all your hard work so far c. The 10 th step inventory can be done using your 4 th step inventory, a journal, a balance sheet, or it can be done right out of the big book pg 8485. This site has been built and maintained to support anyone in recovery.
It is meant to provide all the resources one needs to study the 12 steps as outlined in the 4th edition of alcoholics anonymous. Bob would have only taken 15 or 2o people through the steps if he did it that way, instead of 5000. May 15, 2016 the fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event. Aa speakers joe and charlie bills story the big book comes alive duration. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. Humility in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Bill labels resentment as a spiritual disease where the alcoholic is not only. Alcoholism12 step support a perspective on we agnostics chapter 4 of the big book colornavyim not going for this god stuff. No attention is given to the positive qualities of the person taking a selfinventory, yet it is most important to remember our good qualities while dealing with the negative ones. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the 12.
The second edition 1955 consisted of 1,150,000 copies. By the very act of critiquing chapter 4, we agnostics, i admittedly commit aa heresy. That is what the authors of the big book and millions before you did. For example,where is step one, step two, three found in the big book of aa. This is how step three was worded in the original manuscript for the big book, prior to final editing and publishing of the book. George b was a practicing dentist for 47 years and is now a graduate student in a masters degree program for addiction counseling. The manuscript version, for me, gives me a better understanding of step three.
Step two is the step in which we formerly acknowledge the higher power. Known as the big book, it is in its fourth edition and is widely circulated through out the world. Exactly where have i been, what have i done and how far did i go in my. Sth step page 2 of 6 resentment list big book note.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves reading. Step 2 came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. Page 4 the major changes to the big book editions have been in the selection of personal stories so that they represent a good crosssection of the aa membership. Learning the process of overcoming resentment literally saves the lives of people who are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism. There is a saying in the 12 step programs that recovery is a process, not an event. The same can be said for step 4, which requires making a moral inventory. In the first full paragraph of page 64, they write. The 4th step inventory pages are the best i have seen. This guide is intended to be used as an aid to writing a fourth step inventory. The first step aa big book support group discussions. As we read in the preface to the fourth edition of the big book.
It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Taking commercial inventory is a factfinding and a factfacing process. The big book explains that we must make a list that includes all our resentments we have and have ever had, an account of sexual conduct and our fears. Shed layer after layer of pain, lies, shame, and anger, and get to the guts of who you are.
The experience outlined in the big book makes it clear that it is not enough to believe that there is a higher power that can help us. This steps by the big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. You will need idiots guide as you go through steps 1 3. Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Below, are the idiots guides for the addictionissue you are addressing. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers. Working step four in narcotics anonymous we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. These last three steps keep us current and help us to. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as. They comfort the melancholy one by fi rst showing him that his. We have to cooperate, to do certain things that will allow a higher power to help us follow spiritual principles. On what pages are the steps laid out in the big chapter three is devoted entirely to step one, chapter four is devoted to step two, chapter five introduces us to the rest of the steps, with instructions for step three beginning on page sixty.
When the time was right for me, it seemed as if the pen in my hand had a direct connection to my mind, and the memories of a lifetime just poured out onto the page. The authors start by comparing a personal inventory to a business inventory. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the big. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the. The sponsorship guide is your syllabus throughout your 12 step course using the idiots guide. Four they by no means take the place of doing the fourth step inventory as laid out in the big book of aa. The steps are in the big book, the work book for example page 3 step 2 tells you to go in the aa big bookpps. Please read that instruction sheet, follow the instructions, and also read all the references in the big book mentioned in the instructions, and read the big book references on each one of the individual forms. Jul 17, 2019 the book alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known by members as the big book, is the textbook for the original 12 step recovery program now known by the same name. We could find all sorts of occult and esoteric connotations in the simple outlines, but foremost in our minds were easily understood meanings and. How could there possibly be a god when there are so many starving people and wars where everybody says god is on their side. The step 4 forms and the step 11 form were originally produced by blaine d. I worked 4th step inventory before the ones i have worked in the past had check boxes that left me feeling as if something was left undone. Make an appointment as soon as possible with your step advisor, sponsor or spiritual advisor to take step five.
You can be selfish wanting only the best for other people, at least in the context of the big book. It is extremely important that we work with an na sponsor. Step 4 big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 5, pp 63. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a.
A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. The inventory was also a step in helping us align our lives with the will of god. The big book was originally published in 1939 by aa founders bill w. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. The big book holds within it the central thesis and ideas of alcohol anonymous and the 12 step approach. When was the last time you described the actions to take in order to recover from the seemingly hopeless state of mind and body page xiii, forward to the first edition, 3rd edition that is alcoholism. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. The fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event. 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. Since the overall philosophy of alcoholics anonymous is that alcoholism is just a symptom of a spiritual disease, the real problem is in character flaws that.
Big book awakening 4th step workshop resentment examples and worksheets 122006 columns 14 to download the most current versions of these worksheets go to. To be able to start on this step, the previous three steps must of course have been completed, so before starting check with your sponsor, spiritual advisor, counselor, etc. Bbss speakers on step four in accordance with the twelve traditions of alcoholics anonymous. Words contained within the first 164 pages of the big book. The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and. Understanding step 4 of the 12 steps verywell mind. I am restored to sanity as a result of allowing something into my consciousness other than my own insane thinking and feeling.