This week’s reading assignment:
Yellow workbook pages 102-104 OR BRB pages 185 – 189
Yellow workbook pages 76-78, the sections titled “Distinguishing Our Feelings” and “Feeling Intensity Scale”
Red Book pages 160-164
Red Book page 19, item #12
Red Book page 38, the first two paragraphs beginning “When we did excel . . .”
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 Four (the tradition for the month of April) in detail starting on Red Book page 508
Suggested supplemental reading:
Friel, John and Linda, “An Adult Child’s Guide to What’s ‘Normal’ “, pages 53-56, the chapter on feelings. 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.”
Friel, John and Linda, “Adult Children: The Secrets of Dysfunctional Families,” pages 107-109. 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:
Yellow workbook page 103, the Feelings Sentence exercise, and page 104, the Praise exercise. The following questions are adapted from the workbook:
Complete the following sentence for as many feelings as you are able to identify and distinguish:
I feel ___________ when __________ because _________________. (Example: “I feel hopeful when I attend an ACA meeting because I know I am heard.”
(NOTE: The yellow workbook recommends completing three sentences daily for a period of two weeks, then continuing to practice identifying and distinguishing our feelings by regularly completing this exercise.)
(2) Review the list of 25 character assets under the “Praise Exercise” heading on page 104 of the yellow workbook. Identify at least ten of your praiseworthy attributes (and please ignore the running commentary in your head from your Inner Critic while completing this exercise), then share how your praiseworthy attributes have made you a better friend, partner, spouse, parent, employee, etc. to yourself and to others.
“© Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization.”
Deep Dive questions:
A. What do I like about myself?
B. What do other people like about me?
C. What are some of the things I know how to do that make me feel especially proud of myself?
© Al-Anon’s Blueprint for Progress Workbook
ACA Workbook Study 