STEP ONE- We provide step work guides and assistance to 12-Step recovery work and preventing relapse to alcohol and drug addiction. On these pages you will find work sheets ready to print and use to guide you through the Twelve Steps. Although our focus is upon the Alcoholics Anonymous approach, these guides can be used for working an NA, CA, CMA, or any other program of recovery. This service is designed to assist with step work, with quotes and pages from the Big Book, with forms ready to copy and utilize. There is a section devoted to relapse prevention as well.
Step One Guide Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Step One complete "Printer Friendly" version
STEP ONE
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable."
THIS SERVICE IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE
HAVING A SPONSOR, IT IS JUST A WAY FOR YOU
TO START WORKING YOUR STEPS!!!
We believe the newcomer can and should learn much more about the ingredients of the First Step from the Big Book.
These are:
1. Define what alcoholics are: Men and women who have lost the ability to control their drinking (p. 30).
2. What is their "disease" or malady: a three part problem of allergy, obsession, and progression (p. XXIV).
3. How do you identify a real alcoholic (see p. 44 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous): If when you honestly want to, you can't quit entirely;
or if when you start drinking you lose control over the amount you take, your probably are an alcoholic.
4. The "First Step": We learned we had to fully concede to our innermost self that we were alcoholics (p. 30).
5. What are the four things that don't work for the real alcoholic: (a) Self-knowledge. (b) Willpower. (c) Fear. (d) Any human power (p. 39, 40, 42).
6. At that point, you arrive at the conclusion that there is a total "lack of power" to overcome alcoholism without Divine Help (p. 45).
But there is One that has all power- that One is God. May you find Him now (p.59).
7. Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink.
Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense.
His defense must come from a Higher Power. (p.43)
Many come to the program sick and tired, full of guilt and shame,
and not wanting to live that life again; however,
they don't necessarily want to do what it takes to stay sober...
Suggestions for you in your first 90 days:
1) Get a "Home Group."
2) Get a Sponsor.
3) Get a Big Book, and start reading it.
4) Attend 90 meetings in 90 days.
5) Call your Sponsor, every day.
6) Make out a list of things to be grateful for, it may be small in the beginning,
but if you stick around it will grow.
7) Do Service Work.
When you admit you are powerless,
and your life is unmanageable to your inner most self,
the "I admitted" changes, and now you have become a part of the "We admitted."
WELCOME HOME!!!
Reading & Writing Assignments
Read, Bill's Story pgs. 1 - 16, look for the similarities,
the four methods Bill tried to use to stay sober, and failed,
and the way the words change from the beginning of his story,
to the words used after he begins his journey of sobriety-
ask yourself why this happens???.
Read, The Doctors Opinion pgs. XXIII - XXX
Read, There Is A Solution pgs. 17 - 29
Read, More About Alcoholism pgs. 30 - 43
Write, What happened 2 weeks prior to getting help?
Write, Why you feel you are powerless?
Write, Why you feel your life had become unmanageable?
If you are entirely convinced that you are an alcoholic, that you are powerless,
and that your life was unmanageable then you are ready to move on.
Please take note, that if you have a single doubt, even the smallest question in your mind
as to whether you are done, or the thought of,
"This time will be different," then stop right now and review your work,
and write about your doubt.
Share this with another alcoholic before proceeding.
It is far better to get it right today, then to go a year or two
and relapse because you didn't do a proper first step.
It has been shown, that those who harbor even the smallest doubt or question
will relapse- don't let pride get in the way and prevent you from getting real
and dumping everything out on the table- "To Thine Own Self Be True."
It is also common, to want to rush into the steps,
want to have a clean slate, or trying to balance the scales.
You can't rob a liquor store in the morning,
and then help a little old lady cross the street in the afternoon,
with the hopes that it will all balance out.
Unfortunately, you get 10 years sobriety in ten years,
and 20 years in 20 years, and so on.
Try to settle down, and understand that
you are right where you are suppose to be for today.
Spiritually, there are two roots: Oxford/Shoemaker: O God, please manage me because I cannot manage myself. Shoemaker:
There is a gap between man and God which we are powerless to bridge without establishing a relationship with
God through faith. Jung defined it for Rowland Hazard as a "union with God."
Biblically, man is spiritually dead. He needs a connection with God which he can receive by being born again of
God's spirit. At that point, he receives the power of God (See Acts 1 and Luke 24).
