They are provided as jpeg images and pdf files for easier viewing the pdfs are brand new graphics and a big improvement over the previous ones. Remember that in the context of the big book, selfish doesnt just mean wanting things my way for my own benefit. Page 67 of the book, alcoholics anonymous, states, resentment is the number one offender. They may be downloaded individually or as one large zipped or combined fourth step pdf file. The aa cleveland district office has put together the following fourth step guide and was taken directly from the big book of alcoholics anonymous. 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. This is a guide and format which permits the writing of a. Chapter 5 how it works is titled the twelve steps for some reason and it only goes up to the part where it says being convinced, we were at step 3. Our method is to follow the instructions as written and see what the results are. The language and format is taken largely from the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
A simple guide that works with the big book to make step work fast, concise and powerful. To be able to start on this step, the previous three steps must of. You are never too old to improve your health and quality of life. Watch asl dvd version includes subtitles and audio in. 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. Ask for help with inventory and truth in the morning, night and before writing with a prayer like this one taken from the big book. We are all sad to have lost him, however the world was made a better place, for having had him. This inventory is not an exercise in beating yourself up.
Big book awakening 4th step workshop resentment examples and worksheets 122006 columns 14 to download the most current versions of these worksheets go to. There is no one set way that the founders and pioneers worked the steps. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves reading. This is what i believe bill was referring to, on the first page of the step ten chapter in the book 12 steps and 12 traditions. At this stage of the inventory proceedings, our sponsors come to the rescue. Weve had the worst of both worlds, now its time for the best and the big book s fourth step is a great way to start. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous click here. One version was dubbed the california 4th step guide as it was believed that the originators were located in california. My only suggestion would be that anyone i work with finish their fourth step, especially the sex inventory, before considering a new romantic relationship. Click the link above to download the printable 12 step guide. The big books approach to step 4, with its masculine focus is not only less helpful to women than it should be, it is probably harmful. Date change the workshop will begin 311 rather than 34 as originally posted alano society of minneapolis 2218 2218 1st ave s. The first step aa big book support group discussions.
Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Everything contained in these sheets is directly from the big book alcoholics anonymous, there is no opinion, just fact. The guide has a very good set of general directions for doing a 4th step. This steps by the big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations. Next well take a look at another way of doing a 4th step. Al assets and liabilities 4th step from the founders lists the sponsor does this with the sponsee, together.
Step four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to dis. It is not a guide from any rehabilitation center, nor a guide from any person, but rather the a. The fourth step guide is available here for free as a series of files for download and printing. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. Aa speakers joe and charlie working the 4th step the. It is common in aa lore to hear claims that the big book is the secondmost printed book of alltime, second only to the bible.
Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. The following checklist merely suggests what some people consider flaws. It can be given to a newcomer so they can fill it out on their own. There are a total of 17 references in the big book that suggest our 4th step should be written. These fourth step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. 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. Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Big book of alcoholics anonymous large print or hard cover recommended and the. 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. Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. Various versions could be found on early recovery computer bulletin boards bbs. Marty mann 19041980 wrote the chapter women suffer too in the second through fourth editions of the big book.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I listed my resentments on paper, but not necessarily in chronological order. 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. Some of the promises are directly associated with completion of a step. Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in. Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once fast followed by a. Jan 29, 2017 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. 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. In step 3, we made a decision to give up our old plans for living and to try a. The obsession to drink and the insanity has been removed. The big book is a simpler format and much more in depth, especially with the cause and effect chart. There are three separate inventories suggested by the big book, and each 4th step inventory worksheet has an additional page you can print for more space. Steps 4 9 are to prepare us for daily living, the aa way of life, one day at a time. Everything contained in the fourth step inventory worksheets is directly from the book alcoholics anonymous.
Fourth step inventory general directions by anonymous members of alcoholics anonymous buy paper and pen and start writing. Step four instructions made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves a stop set aside prayer. Aa speakers joe and charlie bills story the big book comes alive duration. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. These 12 steps are outlined in chapter 5, how it works, of the big book. Alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition kindle edition by inc, a. The big book bunch 12 step workbook we are the big book bunch group of alcoholics anonymous. These are the original 4th step guides and work sheetsused in the dallas b. May 15, 2016 the fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event.
We wish to look squarely at the unhappiness this has caused others and ourselves. As we read in the preface to the fourth edition of the big book. The directions for step 4 are in the big book, yet surprisingly few alcoholics in recovery comprehend them, and fewer still practice them. To illustrate, here are the same three resentments with the fourth column added to include the self, manifested in various ways. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the. Alcoholics anonymous step 4 guides us to make a searching and.
Fourth step inventory these fourth step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. In the meantime, let us know what you think of this 4th step format or. The minute we make a serious attempt to probe them, we are. We hope it will assist you in completing your personal inventory. Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as. This pamphlet spells out taking step 4 as described in chapter 5, how it works from the big book, alcoholics. If you are working the 4th step, the best way to do it is the way the big book explains it. Step four43 we want to fi nd exactly how, when, and where our natu ral desires have warped us. Now why this stuck with me i dont know, but i decided to try it. 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.
This is also a guide and format for use or application of a. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the big. Possible step 4 fear list here is a list of fears that may be helpful with your fear inventory. 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. A searching, fearless moral inventory as it is expressed in chapter 5 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. How have i done the things ive resented in column 2 to the person ive listed in. 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. Then, further on, after my study of bills story i included some page references throughout different parts of the big book, noting references to stepwork actions that were not numbered. The big book holds within it the central thesis and ideas of alcohol anonymous and the 12 step approach. Alcoholics anonymous, 4th edition kindle edition by inc. This all started as i was searching through the big book looking for all of the occurrences of the word requirement.
I always ask what about the 3rd step decision to begin a new relationship with god. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this but does not suggest writing anything down. Watch asl dvd version includes subtitles and audio in english. These come directly from some of our members 4th step inventory on fear. The aa big book says on eight different occasions that we write out this step. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol drugs, actingout behaviour, that our lives had become unmanageable. Resentments, let them go in alcoholics anonymous we learn that resentment is a condition or state of mind whereby one relives some past event, and feels the emotion from that event as if it were happening right now. The 4th edition 2001 is also freely available online.
The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. God, dying, insanity, rejection, loneliness, diseases, drinking again, taking drugs, sex, sexuality, the opinion of others, looking at my defects of. The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and admitting to ones faults. 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. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory youtube. The steps helped each of the cofounders of aa in their own recovery from alcoholism and have continued to help countless. The authors start by comparing a personal inventory to a business inventory. Cover sheet big book awakening 4th step big book awakening san. Big book goals step 1 emotional sobriety step 2 proposition exercise step 3 prayer 3rd step vision for your life exercise 12 reasons we slip by bill w.
Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned into physical and mental liabilities. Below we have a few worksheets available for you to download and print. I have to write down all of my negative character traits. He gets into the 4th step inventory very deeply because at the time he was writing he himself was going through a deep depression.
There are, however, additional promises in the big book. In the first full paragraph of page 64, they write. This is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. Bob would have only taken 15 or 2o people through the steps if. Step four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to dis cover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are. Home early sobriety companion 4th step 8th9th step app. Learning the process of overcoming resentment literally saves the lives of people who are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism. These 4th step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. A fourth study guides are distilled right out of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Emphasize the importance of writing the 4th step inventory. When you take inventory, you take notes or write down all that you have on hand. Questions to ask while doing your fourth step in aa. They comfort the melancholy one by fi rst showing him that his. Understanding step 4 of the 12 steps verywell mind.
Step 4 big book alcoholics anonymous chapter 5, pp 63. If you get these 4th step worksheets anywhere else they are likely not the originals and may have been changed or altered. 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. Consider the more inclusive step 4 proposed by arlys and martha in the alternative twelve steps. For more information please read dear recovery community.
A woman stormed in, angry at some event that had just occurred, and made her comment, which included this. This simply means taking an honest look at all of your good and bad character traits. Known as the big book, it is in its fourth edition and is widely circulated through out the world. A secular guide to recovery, search honestly and deeply within ourselves to know the exact nature of our. 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. Step work downloads you will need the following 4 things to get started. Bob would have only taken 15 or 2o people through the steps if he did it that way, instead of 5000. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers. Possible step 4 fear list the treasure map meeting. Our origins are the students of the big book group, which has met in woodland hills, california since december of 1985. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the. The big book coverage of step 4 is about being honest and admitting to ones faults, weaknesses, defects. Ready about the fourth step of alcoholics anonymous, which requires a very careful personal inventory of.
The fourth step is one of our first action step towards physical and emotional sobriety. On page 63 is the last time we find the word requirement. 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. The history of this 4th step guide is vague but it has been attributed to anonymous members of alcoholics anonymous. Bedevilments versus the promises spontaneous wisdom of aa members step 4 some helpful thoughts 4th step inventory step 4 resentment and turn around prayers step 4 harms done others. 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. On april 14, 2016, dan sherman, the author of big book awakening lost his battle with cancer. Here are some questions to help guide and prepare you for doing step four they by no means take the place of doing the fourth step inventory as laid out in the big book of aa. The prayers in the 4th step are just as important as the actual writing of the inventory. The fourth step, like the whole of recovery, is a process not an event. The big book states this at the outset of the description of the step four, on page 64. You can be selfish wanting only the best for other people, at least in the context of the big book.
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