Step Five, Week Two: May 8th, 2024

This week’s reading assignment:

Yellow workbook pages 112-116, starting with the section titled “Grief: The Onion and Time” OR BRB pages 199 – 206

“The Solution” “The Solution” on page 590 of the ACA Red Book (also in the first few pages of the workbook), with a particular emphasis on the second paragraph

Red Book pages 295-302, through the section titled “Loving Parent,” and pages 326-327, “What We Can Expect From Reparenting Ourselves.”

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 Five (the tradition for the month of May) in depth starting on page 513 of the BRB

Suggested supplemental reading:

             Sharecare’s online article about caring for oneself while grieving:

http://www.sharecare.com/health/grief-emotional-health/how-care-myself-while-grieving

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.”

Al-Anon’s book, “Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses,” available from Al-Anon’s online store 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.”

Melody Beattie, “Codependents’ Guide To The Twelve Steps,” pages 91-96 of the Step Five chapter, beginning with the heading titled “Setting Ourselves Free” and continuing through the end of this 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.”

This week’s step study questions are adapted from the yellow workbook, Red Book Chapter 8, and from “Codependents’ Guide” with Melody Beattie’s permission:

1. What actions will you take to free yourself from the burden of unexpressed grief? (Hint: this week’s yellow workbook reading contains several suggestions.)
2. List the ways you will comfort and care for yourself while you are doing your 5^th Step grief work.
3. Is there someone in your life now whom you need to talk to? Is there something going on ~ a feeling, a need, or an issue ~ that you don’t want to talk about, but need to? Is there someone you’re avoiding because you have something difficult to say? (Copyrighted by Melody Beattie, “Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps.”)
4. In the past week, have you treated yourself or another person badly? Are you willing to tell a safe and trusted person what you have done? Are you willing to tell your Higher Power what you have done? (Excerpted from Melody Beattie’s copyrighted book, “Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps.”)

© Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization

Deep Dive questions:

A. How does accepting my humanness release me from guilt and shame?

B. In what ways has applying Step Five to my life helped me gain trust in myself and others?

C. As a result of working Step Five, what realization has been the most beneficial to my recovery?

© Al-Anon’s Reaching for Personal Freedom Workbook