4th step in the big book

Remember that in the context of the big book, selfish doesnt just mean wanting things my way for my own benefit. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves reading. This simply means taking an honest look at all of your good and bad character traits. They comfort the melancholy one by fi rst showing him that his. He gets into the 4th step inventory very deeply because at the time he was writing he himself was going through a deep depression. 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. These step study guides and worksheets have been used by thousands of aas, nas, alanons, oa overeaters, cas, gas and other 12 step recovery program members that use the 12 steps as instructed in the book, alcoholics. To be able to start on this step, the previous three steps must of. Yet, we are told, step six is the step that separates the men from the boys. There were a few steps i needed to take before i was ready to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself. See origins of aas 4th step moral inventory it is not mentioned in the big book text at any point.

Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once fast followed by a. Everything contained in the fourth step inventory worksheets is directly from the book alcoholics anonymous. Known as the big book, it is in its fourth edition and is widely circulated through out the world. The big book states this at the outset of the description of the step four, on page 64. First published in 1939, alcoholics anonymous sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Originally introduced in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, the fourth step states that we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. By discovering what our emotional deformities are, we can move toward their correction. There is no one set way that the founders and pioneers worked the steps. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. There doesnt appear to be any big book stories that talk about turnarounds when describing their step work. The big book is a simpler format and much more in depth, especially with the cause and effect chart. Download 4th step sheets word download 4th step sheets pdf download guide to writing columns 3 and 5 word download guide to writing columns 3 and 5 pdf free viewers. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the.

A simple guide that works with the big book to make step work fast, concise and powerful. Then i attended a meeting one friday night, largely attended by people rumored to be the graduates of chicago aa boot camp the dreaded. These guides are meant to be used by na members at any stage of recovery, whether its our first time through the steps or weve been living with the steps as our guiding force for many years. Step four 43 we want to fi nd exactly how, when, and where our natural desires have warped us. The 4th step inventory is perhaps one of the most wellknown pieces of twelvestep programs. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this but. When you have found the desire to overcome your resentments you are ready to proceed. You wont be sharing with the group the work you will be doing on this assignment. To illustrate, here are the same three resentments with the fourth column added to include the self, manifested in various ways. 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.

Ive also included some prompt sheets and tables to aid you. The big book holds within it the central thesis and ideas of alcohol anonymous and the 12 step approach. Step two is the step in which we formerly acknowledge the higher power. Using the big book method to write your fourth step. Alcoholics anonymous big book audio read aloud youtube. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous click here to listen to an audio version, click here.

Shed layer after layer of pain, lies, shame, and anger, and get to the guts of who you are. We decided to use the original text from the big book for the actual questions for the sponsee to answer, instead of rewording them as we saw some of the 4th step guides do. The only requirements are to show up, to study the big book and to practice the steps. Understanding step 4 of the 12 steps verywell mind. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as. We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. But while step seven in the big book consists of a single prayer on page 76 that can, and should, be often repeated while we continue to rework the 12 steps after our initial gothrough, there is no equivalent formula for how to rework step 6. The authors start by comparing a personal inventory to a business inventory.

Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous. At the time of writing the big book, women were viewed as less than rather than equal to or, in many cases, superior to. What people, places or things do you resent and what led to those resentments. The twelve step program big book guide it only takes a day to learn how it works and a lifetime to practice it. As noted in the big book, the wording of the step 3 prayer is optional. The big book holds within it the central thesis and ideas of alcohol anonymous and the 12 step. Steps by the big book free sbbb workbook for the 12.

Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations. How have i done the things ive resented in column 2 to the person ive listed in. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol drugs, actingout behaviour, that our lives had become unmanageable. Please keep in mind that the fourth step is not dealing with changing anything. You can be selfish wanting only the best for other people, at least in the context of the big book. 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.

You can share what you felt about it while doing it. Big book awakening 4th step workshop resentment examples and worksheets 122006 columns 1 4 to download the most current versions of these worksheets go to. These are the original 4th step guides and work sheetsused in the dallas b. Alcoholics anonymousthe big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. On the next page is a modified 3rd step prayer which i recommend. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book. 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.

None of the original members talk about turnarounds, at least not that we can find. Questions and answers from the alcoholics anonymous big book. If you get these 4th step worksheets anywhere else they are likely not the originals and may have been changed or altered. A fourth study guides are distilled right out of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. In the first full paragraph of page 64, they write. However, as noted in the big book, this decision has little effect unless you, at once, start on your written step 4 inventory.

The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and admitting to ones faults, weaknesses, defects. Downloadable group workbook companion to the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous aa, for adults who desire information on alcoholism and addiction recovery. There is a 4th step guide available online for all 12 step members. The narcotics anonymous step working guides unfamiliar, we should feel free to make use of a dictionary. Click the link above to download the printable 12 step guide. In a friendly, focused group of sponsors, sponsees, and others in recovery, we study and practice the 12 steps as they were originally described in the text, alcoholics anonymous. This big book study article shows where you can find the information in the book, alcoholics anonymous, that explains how and when bill w. My advice for heading into step 4 is to allow courage to rise and be completely honest with yourself while doing it. One difference is that the big book prayer includes. To overcome this hurdle we first need to understand resentment, and appreciate the damage that carrying resentments does to ourselves. Alcoholics anonymous step 4 requires a clear and frank understanding of ones self. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous jason.

A graphic guide to aas fourth step though our decision1 was a vital and crucial step. The big book s approach to step 4, with its masculine focus is not only less helpful to women than it should be, it is probably harmful. No doubt we shall point with pride to the good lives we thought we led before the bottle cut us down. As a sponsor you may want your sponsee to write out with pen and paper their 4th step. The big book describes this step as a personal housecleaning. Most people initially baulk at the idea of wishing for good to come to people who have hurt them. Our origins are the students of the big book group, which has met in woodland hills, california since december of 1985. The steps helped each of the cofounders of aa in their own recovery from alcoholism and have continued to help countless. The big book helped guide me through this process, and though i repeatedly read and studied the book, this wasnt entirely an intellectual exercise. Aa speaker turn our will and our lives over to the care of god new 20 duration.

Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. The worksheets were created by using the precise instructions in the big book to make taking the fourth step as easy and simple as possible. Step four of aas twelvestep program of recovery is infamously the scary one. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical. Everything contained in these sheets is directly from the big book alcoholics anonymous, there is no opinion, just fact. At this stage of the inventory proceedings, our sponsors come to the rescue. We have to cooperate, to do certain things that will allow a higher power to help us follow spiritual principles. There are a total of 17 references in the big book that suggest our 4th step should be written. Emphasize the importance of writing the 4th step inventory. The online 4th step guide includes an exhaustive set of directions explaining how the guide works and a reminder that an inventory is simply a list. There are many ways to do a 4th step inventory list.