This week’s reading assignment:
Yellow workbook page 88, the section titled “Exercise 7 – Relationships (Romance/Sexual/Friendship) Inventory” OR BRB page173
Red Book, Chapter 13
Red Book, page 7, the paragraph that begins with the sentence, “In ACA, we realize . . .”
Red Book page 101, the first paragraph under the “Powerlessness vs. Learned Helplessness” heading
Red Book pages 356-357, under the heading “Origin of Emotional Intoxication”
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
Tradition Three (the tradition for the month of March) in depth starting on page 503 of the Red Book
Suggested supplemental reading:
Friel, John and Linda, “Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families,” pages 134-137 starting with the sentence, “Below we have outlined some of the issues . . .” 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.”
Beattie, Melody, “Codependent No More,” pages 209-211, the section titled “Fear of Intimacy” in the chapter titled “Pieces and Bits” 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 4th 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 sections on Relationships (pgs. 48-50) and Communication (pgs. 35-37) are especially useful for this week’s 4th Step work.
Suggested supplemental reading for upcoming 5th Step work: Red Book Chapter 11 titled “Sponsorship ~ Fellow Travelers”, pages 365 – 390
This week’s step study questions:
Yellow workbook page 89, “Relationship Worksheet.” The following questions are adapted from this exercise:
Thinking of a romantic partner, a friend, or another person with whom I once had a relationship: What did I expect to get from that relationship? What did I really get from that relationship? Describe my dependent behavior in the relationship. How did the relationship end?
“© Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization.”
Deep Dive questions:
A. Who sets the boundaries in my relationships?
B. In my interactions with others, what might be harmful about my responses?
C. How much do I try to control the thinking and actions of others?
D. How do I show others I care for them when I disagree with what they say or do?
© Al-Anon’s Blueprint for Progress Workbook
ACA Workbook Study 