Step Three, Week Four: January 31st, 2024

Reading assignment for this week:

Yellow workbook pages 62 – 64 OR BRB pages 145 – 149

Red Book Chapters 5 and 8

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: 

Tradition One (the tradition for the month of January) in depth starting on Red Book page 491

Melody Beattie, “Codependents’ Guide To The Twelve Steps,” page 49 under the heading “As We Understood God” in the Step Three chapter.) 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.”

Suggested supplemental text for 3^rd and 4^th Step work:

The AlAnon workbook titled “Blueprint for Progress: Al-Anon’s Fourth Step Inventory, Revised” (copyright date 2004, with the black text and deeper blue-and-white-checked cover; available from AlAnon or on Amazon.com.)   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.”  The section on Spirituality (pgs 84-86) is useful for in-depth Third Step work.

This week’s step study questions are found on page 67 of the yellow workbook under the heading “As We Understand God:”

1. 1)  Can I ask my Higher Power to be there for me no matter what happens?
2. Will I be abandoned by God if I don’t work a perfect program of recovery quickly enough?
3. Why does God refuse to reject me or let me go when I feel unimportant or not worthy?
4. Can I ask a Higher Power to help me release my most glaring controlling behaviors?
5. How do I accept God’s unconditional love for me?
6. What does reparenting myself have to do with Step Three? Who is the “actual parent?” (Hint: Read The Solution on Red Book page 590.)

“Copyrighted by Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization.”

Deep Dive questions:

A. When I “Let Go and Let God” take care of my life, am I willing to follow the guidance I receive?

B. How can I turn a situation over and let go of the results?

C. How can I stop myself from taking my will back?

© Al-Anon’s Paths to Recovery Workbook