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. Wilson, one of the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa. Admitting alcohol controls your life is step 1 in aa and alanon. This step gave me the chance to reflect on my past and take full responsibility for my part in the burned bridges. All levels of honesty are important in various ways but early in my recovery process i learned a great deal about being honest with myself from dr. Alcoholics anonymous quotes by alcoholics anonymous goodreads. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. See what results you get from doing that and in the meantime learn what you can through this site, online meetings, the aa site and the big book. Page 17, paragraph 1 page 17, paragraph 2 the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous is a great thing. The higher my expectations of other people are, the lower is my serenity. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the big book and a study guide of the 12 steps of aa.
Chapter 2 sponsors emphasize the values of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, which are relatively conservative within recovery culture, but chapter 2 sponsors also are progressive in the way they implement those. The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. I can begin to have an experience with this awesome power that keeps me sober, gives me a new life and reveals more and more truth as i become more. Chapter 2 there is a solution w e, of alcoholics anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as bill. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either. Over the years many lists of virtues that correspond to each of the twelve steps and their underlying spiritual nature have been printed in. Step 2 came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. Why would bill capitalize the word fellowship here and not anywhere else in the big book. Step 2 proposition exercise this exercise is for members of alcoholics anonymous who would like to get back on the spiritual beam. Difference between big book and 12 steps and 12 traditions. Alcoholics anonymous quotes author of alcoholics anonymous.
It was written to depend and broaden the understanding of the 12 steps. So, whats important is to keep all expectations at a realistic level. Pauls lesson in the big book regarding expectations being inversely proportional to serenity. Step two is specifically designed for the mental obsession. The big book of alcoholics anonymous the world famous eye.
Buddy t is an anonymous writer and founding member of the online alanon outreach committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Aa big book with questions for discussion hi everyone. The big book and a study guide of the 12 steps of aa kindle edition by wilson, bill, silkworth, william. I can watch my serenity level rise when i discard my expectations. Breaking down step two of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. The big book and a study guide of the 12 steps of aa. The big book and a study guide of the 12 steps of aa kindle. Alcoholism12 step support big book quote my serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations.
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. Have you got a copy of 12 steps and 12 traditions as that may be useful to you as well. I have read it discussed it, and have heard it discussed in countless meetings. And so can you, though you be but one man with this book in your hand. Expectations in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps. For anyone new to recovery and the program of alcoholics anonymous, it is an. I was always feeling like a victim because people and life were not acting in the way i believed they should act. Alcoholics anonymous, the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Expectations in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. My creator, i am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. In that relationship, a sponsee might meet with a sponsor either before or after a meeting, in order to learn about expectations and responsibilities. Step guide fourth step inventory big book study worksheets in step template aa steps al anon celebrate recovery alcoholics anonymous narcotics anonymous sober life bozo printable worksheets super worksheets. 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.
Expectations are premeditated resentments purple treatment. This is a 1 page summary of sections out of the aa big book original manuscript on step 2. Explaining the roles of sponsor and sponsee sunrise house. The 12 steps and 12 steps was written 14 years after the big book. But then my rights try to move in, and they, too, can force my. Jan 24, 2020 in the 7th step of alcoholics anonymous, you will humbly ask him to remove your shortcomings. Wherever we do not stay current in our experience with this step, for it is not about knowledge, that is where we will relapse into drinking and using. Get information about alcoholics anonymous step 2, which states, we came to be aware that a.
We have to cooperate, to do certain things that will allow a higher power to help us follow spiritual principles. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along. Acceptance is the key the alcoholics guide to alcoholism. I didnt connect with the big book of alcoholics anonymous until over a year into my sobriety. Step over to the nearest barroom and try some controlled. It is the originator of the seminal twelvestep method widely used to treat addictions that range from alcoholism, heroin, meth and marijuana addiction, as well as overeating, sex. What is it that you have in your hand, that leads these first aa members to believe you can grow the fellowship. The steps helped each of the cofounders of aa in their own recovery from alcoholism and have continued to help countless. Pauls chapter in the big book of alcoholics anonymous doctor, alcoholic, addict. How it works taken from alcoholics anonymous big book pages 6063 being convinced, we were at step three, which is that we decided to turn our will an how it works big book pgs. Big book step index step 1 we admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. When i read the descriptions of what an alcoholic is in the big book i have yet to find any reference that and an unmanageable life has anything to do with whether or not a person is alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Over the years many lists of virtues that correspond to each of the twelve steps and their underlying spiritual nature have been printed in local area aa newsletters and on pocket cards. The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc.
My 10 favorite lines from the big book of alcoholics. Aa, aa expectations, aa holidays, agk, ann kroger, big book, family, gratitude, how it works, let go absolutely, thanksgiving 4 comments follow blog via email enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is the originator of the seminal twelve step method widely used to treat addictions that range from alcoholism, heroin, meth and marijuana addiction, as well as overeating, sex. Serenity and expectations intimately interrelated that was the way i lived most of my life, i could see how life was but i couldnt stand it. Step meetings, some groups will discuss the traditions so that, every thirteenth meeting the group focuses on a tradition. There are stories, steps, theories, and personal advice from a. On page 417 are the words,when i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing or situation some fact of my life, unacceptable to me, and i can find no serenity until i accept that person, place, thing. There is power in people who are supporting each other and the aa fellowship is a very strong support group. Its therapeutic to be among others who have recovered from the same problem. Steps by the big book step 2 steps by the big book. Hope in order to engage in a course of addiction recovery, we.
In the 12step recovery process, we learn more about ourselves and the nature of acceptance. Step by step guide for sponsors a companion to aas big book. Step two of aa in our lives i have come to believe that by being in the fellowship of aa, with the aid of the 12 steps, that i can walk through the painful times in recovery knowing that an end is near, this too shall pass and there is always light at the end of darkness, as i stay clean and continue to work the steps. After you have accepted that you are powerless over your addiction and can no longer manage your life, you are prepared to begin on step two. Step two is the step in which we formerly acknowledge the higher power. This step is described on roman numeral pages 25 32 xxv xxxii, on pages 1 44.
The higher my expectations of max and other people are. Also the book was written to show how aa functions through the twelve traditions. 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. Sponsorship in aa 6 characteristics of a good sponsor discovery. Local online meetings please connect 10 mintues before the meeting time to confirm your technology is working correctly. Give me your protection and care as i abandon myself to you and give up my old ways and my old ideas just for today.
It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. People who are members of the groups especially the step group will know who these people are. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Page 53 2 of the book alcoholics anonymous the big book poses the step 2 proposition. How it works taken from alcoholics anonymous big book pages 6063 being convinced, we were at step three, which is that we decided to turn our will an weve updated. Read the book alcoholics anonymous from the frontispiece through the end of chapter 11 a vision for you pg 164. The 12 steps of aa are the principles of the program that we practice, as listed in the big book, pages 59 and 60. In order to complete this task successfully, you will need to understand what it means to be truly humble. Step one certainly serves as a foundation for future work, creating a firm underpinning on which the steps are erected. Sharing 39 years of experience with the big book in a big book oriented retreat weekend. 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. That level of honesty had to do with being honest with myself about my expectations. We believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin.
All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. The big book also contains stories of members of aa who share their experience getting sober. Step 8 is a wonderful step for beginning to rebuild some bridges that were burned in active addiction. It is the platform on which an entirely new life can be built. When you are new in it is hard to tell who has a good recovery. This is the big book of alcoholics anonymous, describing how to recover from alcoholism, written by the founders of alcoholics anonymous aa, bill w. And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When we became alcoholics, crushed by a selfimposed crisis we could not.
Step 2 proposition exercise emotional sobriety and food. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. This, the newcomer thinks, is just about the last straw. All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and reli. I can begin to have an experience with this awesome power that keeps me sober, gives me a new life and reveals more and more truth as i become more teachable and place more reliance on god than self. In the context of the larger twelve step movement, the chapter 2 groups can be characterized as progressive big book sponsorship. For the serious student of the aa big book, what follows are some recommendations from the author of this study guide in the approach to take when utilizing this supplemental material. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book. Dec 07, 2018 step 8 is a wonderful step for beginning to rebuild some bridges that were burned in active addiction. When addiction had its grip on me, some of my relationships with loved ones became strained, and i hurt some of those closest to me. By charlotte safir, lcdc came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism generally known as the big book because of the thickness of the paper used in the first edition is a 1939 basic text, describing how to recover from alcoholism, primarily written by william g. 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. When i am disturbed, it is because i find some person, place, thing, or situation some fact of my life unacceptable to me, and i can find no serenity until i accept that person, place, or thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to. Step 2 focuses on preparing alcoholics to let go of their need for control over everything in their.
The next step emotional sobriety in a working retreat format with dave f. Alcoholics anonymous is often referred to as a 12 step program, and aa is the basis for many other 12 step programs that have been established. A sponsee might also have sponsorassigned tasks to complete, such as checking in via phone periodically or reading chapters of the big book and reporting back with key findings to discuss. The second step tells me i cannot do recovery alone.