Step Ten, Week Four: July 31st, 2024

Reading assignment for this week:

Yellow workbook pages 147-152 OR BRB pages 250 – 257

Red Book pages 10-18

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 Seven (the tradition for the month of July) in depth starting on page 522 of the BRB

Suggested supplemental reading:

Melody Beattie, “Codependents Guide to the Twelve Steps,” the Step Ten chapter, pages 153-167 of the 1990 edition.  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.”

Patrick Carnes, “A Gentle Path Through The Twelve Steps,” the Personal Craziness Index section. 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.”

Red Book Chapter 8, “The Solution: Becoming Your Own Loving Parent”

This week’s step study questions are excerpted from the yellow workbook, the Step Ten worksheet on http://12-steps-recovery.com, and from Melody Beattie’s book, “Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps” with the author’s permission:

1. Complete the Personal Inventory exercise on page 158 of the yellow workbook, then please share your answers to the following questions with the group as you are willing:
   • h. Am I attending ACA meetings to nurture myself and to give back what was given to me?
   • i. Have I acted helpful recently to manipulate others?
   • j. Am I secretly angry at someone, but I am avoiding talking about it?
   • k. Have I listened to my Inner Child or True Self today?
   • l. Did I judge myself or someone else without mercy today?
   • m. Am I listening to the Critical Parent or Loving Parent?
   • n. Am I remembering that I can ask for help today and that I can call someone?
2. How will you continue your process of self-awareness and inventorying? Will you spend time each morning or evening reviewing your day? Or will you allow your insights to happen naturally, as you go through life and recovery? Will you combine tactics? What method(s) do you think will work best for you? (© Melody Beattie, Codependents Guide)

Deep Dive questions:

A. After practicing the Tenth Step, how have my feelings about it changed?

B. What can help me accept myself as I make mistakes again and again?

C. How can I be patient with myself if I feel I’m not growing fast enough?

D. What will help me continue to apply program tools when life gets rough?

© Al-Anon’s Paths to Recovery Workbook