Bleeding Deacon "All you need is the Big Book"

joelo · Senior Member

Bleeding Deacon "All you need is the Big Book"

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

It because they think the AA that worked for them is getting lost as time goes by. I still hear non smokers reminiscing about the "smoke filled rooms" and church basement meetings. It's basically the same as "when I was young, I walked to school 20 miles barefoot." It worked for them so it should work for you. For many older people, technology is the enemy. If you went to a strict church and told them you had this great online study guide to the bible, the more zealot members would do the same exact thing. Anyhow, if it helps you it helps you. AA was less flexible in the past...only old-timers here could say if that's a good or bad thing.

eastcoastscott · Senior Member

I'm thinking that the old timer is right to a certain degree. The way I look at it is that yes, the BB is all about the 12 steps. In fact so is this board "Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums". In my opinion, if all you had was the BB, I am certain that you would practice a wonderful recovery. Since it's inception however, there have been thousands of other books written. One thing is for sure.....we tend to gravitate to "an easier, softer way" and when we seek more modern writings, we may lose focus of the critical info laid out for us in the BB. As always, "half measures availed us nothing" and we see so many people lose focus on the simplicity of this recovery program. Sure, there are other avenues for help but doing the 12 steps first has never failed anyone. I don't agree with anyone, especially at a meeting, telling others what to do, that goes against everything Bill and Bob stood for.

bikerbill · MIP Old Timer

I hear this so many times - all you need is the big book, all the answers are in the big book.........and I agree now, but if there are other resources why not use them, so long as I keep referring back to the big book.

I'm listening to some CDs on a big book study - I'm enjoying them and I'm getting a new , maybe deeper, understanding of the Big Book - am i wrong? I dunno. Do I care? not really.

But there is a but. Non conference approved literature should not be used in a meeting and I believe shouldn't be openly taken into a meeting. otherwise we might as well sit about reading the lifestyle column in the sheffield Star. (mind you i have a similar opinion on having a plate of biscuits on the table - it's a fellowship meeting not a coffee morning, but it's not important enough for me to raise at a conscience meeting)

Mind you I have met people who try to solve other problems than alcoholism using the big book, even quoting to chapter and verse. maybe it's a good starting point, but in my humble opinion the big book helps me to solve alcoholism, gives me a pointer towards the rest, but it's no good if I want to know how to wire a plug.

joelo · Senior Member

Scott,

i'd agree with you had the workbook i'm using not been about the 12 steps, but it IS about the 12 steps and the BB. Every night it gives me a chapter to read either from the BB or 12/12, and then i journal about it.

What really disappointed me was that this guy promptly pointed his finger at the workbook, WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT, and basically told me i was wasting my time and that i was wrong.

His behavior was not unlike that of a dry drunk - i'm right, you're wrong.

toni baloney · Senior Member

Hi Joelo,

Are you referring to the " A Gentle Path Through the 12 Steps"??

I am familiar with that book, and it is an AA Approved Book, I believe it can be found on the Second page in the MIP Bookstore here at this site.

But you might be referring to another 12 step work book, so for now I will just say happy to see you here, and hope you have a good day today.

Toodles, Toni

joelo · Senior Member

Hey Toni,

The book i'm using comes from here:

http://www.12stepworkbook.org/

Sobrietyspell · MIP Old Timer

Thank you for sharing the link, Joelo. It looks like it is a guide to the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous & has been written by someone practicing the program. In that nature I would say it's as good as the opinion of any good Sponsor or AAer though not suggested to be in the place of ;) Much material like this has helped me to understand the Steps & has been of great benefit to me e.g. Joe McQ / Joe & Charlie chats, etc. There's loads of material out there. I've enjoyed Hazelden too. The Big Book is the original source & if I want to get sober the A.A. way that's my definitive & continuous reference but I do enjoy anything that helps me to understand the repeated messages I get from approved literature & the messages I hear from members practicing their program of progress in the rooms too. Enjoy your journey, Joelo. Getting sober is serious business but that isn't to say we can't enjoy our hard work. Godblessings, Danielle x

CAUTION: THIS COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR OLD WAY OF LIFE.

USE THIS WORKBOOK, OR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS, AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Doing whats suggested in this workbook may cause you to let go of some parts of your personal reality. It could cause you to be less limited. You may stop blaming other people, places, and things. You may stop being a user and become an owner of your own stuff. You may find yourself giving up some of your old resentments, pains and fears. You could even find yourself with a new understanding and/or awakening. Maybe you will find your Self. Neither this workbook nor any of its contents are for sale. They are for sharing. Pass it on freely to those you love and those you dont.

OUR MISSION - We will introduce you to this set of useful tools; however, tools are worthless unless we learn how to use them and then use them. Well, thats what this little workbook is about. Our main focus will be learning new ways to expand our application of the program. To help you awaken to the powerful spiritual principles embodied in the Twelve Steps (Recovery), Twelve Traditions (Unity) and Twelve Concepts for World Service (Service). The main focus of this Workbook will be on the Twelve Steps. Awakening we believe is the correct word because it does happen as the result of applying the spiritual principles. We want to dispel the illusion that we are to impose an understanding by applying the principles found in our program. In fact, we use information and understanding to help chip away all that is not our God-created self to help us open up and realize our Spiritual Gifts, our true nature.

POWER - OUR FIRST SPIRITUAL GIFT - Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a Power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power? Well, thats exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which will solve your problem. (Alcoholics Anonymous page 45 reprinted with permission) The main object of this workbook is to be in concert with that. Working the first eleven Steps will assure us of having a personality change, a shift in our perception sufficient to cause a spiritual awakening. Step Twelve opens with: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps This spiritual awakening, this Gift, is the first of our three primary goals of this workbook.

LOVE OUR SECOND SPIRITUAL GIFT - One of the most common human needs is love. The second part of Step Twelve is; we tried to carry this message. This is sharing; this is Love. We give but little when we give of our possessions, it is when we give of ourselves that we truly give. In the act of giving, passing it on, what we have received, we realize that giving and receiving are the same? In fact, the only way we can become a Master Receiver is to share with others everything we want for ourselves. We can love because our deepest nature is love. The messenger is the message.

OUR HEARTS DESIRE OUR THIRD SPIRITUAL GIFT - Awakening to the individual self we were created to be with purpose and meaning, in other words, to consciously live our Hearts Desire, Gods Will for each individual. The third part of Step Twelve is: and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The only way we can fully realize who we are is to share what we currently are as the result of this process. When we are God-centered even for a moment we will have all the power and wisdom we need. In that moment we will be told or shown what to do, say, think and feel in a way we can currently hear, understand and follow.

I love & can identify with these principles. Thank you for sharing them with us, Joelo. biggrin

Rob84 · MIP Old Timer

Hi Joelo,

I got Sober in NE ohio (Cleveland Area) 24 years ago but I have been living and involved in AA meetings in the Atlanta area for the past 9 years.

To me the Southern US seems to be very BB focused w/ everyone bringing their books to meetings,
I think it might be a Bible-study Bible-belt carryover or something??

Most meetings when I arrived limited discussion topics to the first 164 pgs of the BB, I have personally worked to change this at a lot of the meetings I go to.

I think to cut yourself off from all the new resources and information to help in soberity and working the steps is cheating yourself, the 12 steps are the 12 steps there is no changing them.

The orignators of AA used any tool or book that they thought would help them stay sober(yes there where AA meetings before the BB was written).

In Ohio we commonly read the 24 hr book before meetings, took our topics from any book or pamplet we felt was appropriate, there is also a lot of literature available through the Cleveland Central Office regarding parts of the original AA program that where deleted from the BB, but Dr. Bob felt they where important, such as the Four Absolutes.

IMO the guy at your meeting was wrong, but God may have put him there to help you work your program....Remember Love and Tolerance is our Code.

Good luck with the steps!

angelov8 · MIP Old Timer

Hi,
I appreciated your information about the workbook. I just met with my new sponsor for the first time. I was asked to write and bring my notes about the first step. (Ten or so examples of how my life was unmanageable) As we work together on the steps I will continue to do written notes along with other reading "homework". I also love structure and your message made this even more clear how lucky I am to have a sponsor who prefers this style of working the steps. It helped our meeting and work together have a focus that it may not have had otherwise. Along with meetings, and MIP messaging, it will help me maintain a different level of commitment and consciousness about my new sobriety. I wouldn't worry too much about that guy's comments. Aren't we advised in AA to take what serves and leave the rest? Concentrate on the similarities and not differences? I'm like you, I like workbook style working. Thanks for sharing, Angelov8

joelo · Senior Member

Well, in getting back into AA and going back to my old Home Group, i met up with my original sponsor and showed him the workbook and he's very excited about it. I have my first sponsor meeting with him on Tuesday a few hours before our regular meeting. i can't wait.

Toni, i also bought a copy of "A Gentle Guide..." and i'm loving that one too.

i will put my paws on ANYTHING that will empower me to stay sober. Last go 'round, i was a dry drunk for 16 months ... i spoke at length at meetings as if i knew what i was talking about. Now, i go to meetings and i keep my mouth shut. I'm not saying that all newcomers should do this, some of you may have pressing issues that you need help with ... i don't right now. i have my beautiful wife, my kids ... my life is still, for the most part, intact.

God Bless you all.

Halfwolf · Veteran Member

It says in the Big Book to go to any length necessary. It just like the old and tired argument of whether we should take Medication to help keep us sober.
I prescribed Med's for anxiety. I drank to suppress my anxiety. The pill is better for ME.
Use what ever you need to maintain sobriety. I personally like the Old Timers because they are my age and they do keep it simple, but I don't always agree with them.

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

Yeah, there are lots of different ideas out there. One oldtimer message would be sit down and shut up for your entire first year. I can tell you right now that one would NOT have worked for me. At this point, yeah....I do need to work on knowing when to add my 2 cents and when not to. Just remember Joelo...you can speak AND listen in meetings. It's not necessarily one or the other. I am mostly silent in all meetings that are not beginner's meetings because that is where the solutions largely are...from those with time. If I take up time with my newcomer struggles in those meetings, it's stopping someone else with the solution from sharing. But there is and needs to be a place for all of us to share in meetings...so I wouldn't remain totally silent. But whatever works for you. I might get a rude awakening soon about opening my mouth too much so I dunno. There. I added my 2 cents on another topic you brought up in your response :)

-- Edited by pinkchip on Sunday 28th of June 2009 08:38:44 AM

joelo · Senior Member

Thanks guys ... i will say this, down here a LOT of the old timers drone on and on about how it was when they were drinking. "Let me tell you, when i was still drinking it was my way or the highway", etc. War stories of the days when they were pickled.

I just don't get "that." i want to hear about HOPE. i want to hear about RECOVERY. I want to hear about what you did to get OUT of that.

If the stories of what they were like were followed up by "but then, i did X, Y and Z and got better" i could take it ... but no ... it seems most of the old timers like reliving the days of their drunken debauchery.

The discussion RARELY stays on topic ... it's usually regurgitated stuff like "i wake up every morning and ask God to keep me sober" etc ... stuff they've said a thousand times already. i want to scream and say "WERE YOU LISTENING TO THE READING at the beginning of the meeting???"

Sorry, just had to vent.

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

This is an old thread but I found it while searching for information about 12-step workbooks.

Of course, I am working the steps with my sponsor, and she gives me written exercises to do each week relevant to the step we are on. But being a typical alcoholic overachiever, I've found myself wanting to do more -- right now I also do exercises out of a book called "A Woman's Way Through the Twelve Steps" (http://www.amazon.com/Womans-Way-Through-Twelve-Steps/dp/0894869930). I like writing things out and it helps me think about the relevant step in ways I wouldn't otherwise.

I was just wondering if anybody else has workbooks they have found particularly useful and wouldn't mind sharing the titles?

GG

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

GG you might enjoy this one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984536132/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0395925037&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=08ASKECBHEZRXJE0P3N3

-- Edited by StPeteDean on Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 12:39:40 AM

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

Seriously this work book is probably what you're looking for.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6076732/AA-12-Steps

LinBaba · MIP Old Timer

TwelveSteps wrote:

This is an old thread but I found it while searching for information about 12-step workbooks.

Of course, I am working the steps with my sponsor, and she gives me written exercises to do each week relevant to the step we are on. But being a typical alcoholic overachiever, I've found myself wanting to do more -- right now I also do exercises out of a book called "A Woman's Way Through the Twelve Steps" (http://www.amazon.com/Womans-Way-Through-Twelve-Steps/dp/0894869930). I like writing things out and it helps me think about the relevant step in ways I wouldn't otherwise.

I was just wondering if anybody else has workbooks they have found particularly useful and wouldn't mind sharing the titles?

GG

Melody Beatty's book about the codapendents guide to the 12 steps was suprisingly pertinant to me as well GG, like scary, if you find yourself wanting to "do more", I also found Joe and Charlie's seminars incredibly helpful, you can find those in the XA speaker links in the stickies iin the top of the forum here

TwelveSteps · Senior Member

Thanks!

GG

Klaatu · Senior Member

Here's a web site I've used in the past. http://www.sober.org/ It's got some pretty good stuff...worth a look.

Brian