Step One Week Two: September 20th, 2023

Step One, Week Two: September 20^th, 2023

Reading assignment:

Yellow workbook pages 7-9 OR Big Red Book (BRB) pages 101-104

Red Book pages 573-575, the “Cross Talk” through “Fixing Others” paragraphs

Recommended weekly reading:

“The Laundry List” or “The Problem,” “The Solution,” and “The Promises” on pages 587-591 of the Red Book or in the first several pages of the yellow workbook;

“The Twelve Steps” on pages 91-92 of the Red Book (also on pages 1-2 of the workbook); and

“The Twelve Traditions” on page 592 of the Red Book

Suggested supplemental reading: 

The first 100 pages of the ACA Red Book (to be read over several weeks)

BRB (Red Book) Chapter 7

Tradition Nine (the tradition for the month of September) in depth starting on page 532 of the BRB

The Step One chapter of “A Codependent’s Guide To The Twelve Steps” by Melody Beattie (to be read over several weeks; available used on Amazon.com for around $4.00 USD.)* See ACAWSO’s Literature Policy: “It has always been accepted that ACA should remain eclectic in choosing literature. That is, ACA meetings may draw from various sources without censorship.”

“Days of Healing, Days of Joy: Daily Meditations for Adult Children” by Earnie Larson and Carol Larson Hegarty (available used on Amazon.com for around $4.00 USD.)* See ACAWSO’s Literature Policy: “It has always been accepted that ACA should remain eclectic in choosing literature. That is, ACA meetings may draw from various sources without censorship.”

This week’s step study questions are found on pages 28-29 of the yellow workbook “Twelve Steps of Adult Children” under the heading “Powerlessness”:

1. How is powerlessness different than helplessness?
2. Do I understand that the effects of family dysfunction mentioned in Step One are the Laundry List traits?
3. List three effects of growing up in an alcoholic, addicted, or dysfunctional home. (Hint: any of the 14 common ACA traits.)
4. What was my role growing up in my dysfunctional home: lost child, hero, scapegoat, and rescuer? Other _____________________________
5. How many of the common ACA traits of an adult child do I identify with in the Laundry List/Problem?
6. What does “don’t talk, don’t trust, don’t feel” mean?

ALSO SEE: Pages 34-43 of the yellow workbook, to be completed over our several weeks of Step One work.

© Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization’s 12 Steps of Adult Children Workbook

Deep Dive questions:

A. What brought me into ACA? What did I hope to gain at that time? How have my expectations changed?

B. Who has expressed concern about my behavior? My health? My children? Give examples.

C. Do I trust my own feelings? Do I know what they are?

© Al-Anon’s Paths to Recovery Workbook

D. What is the difference between being powerless and being empowered?

E. When I let go of others, how am I then empowered? How does this make my life manageable?

© CoDa’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Workbook