Step One
Does my experience abundantly confirm that, whenever I take any alcohol whatever into my system, something happens both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for me to stop? (22:4)
Do I have any lurking notion that someday I will be immune to alcohol? (33:1)
Do I believe I am unable, at certain times, to bring into my consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago, let alone the suffering and humiliation of whenever my last drink was? Do I believe I am without defence against the first drink? (24:2)
Do I believe such a defence must come from a Higher Power? (43:3)
Identification of current problems
Is living unsatisfactory? (51:0) → 'Lack'
Am I making heavy going of life? (51:0) → 'Limitation'
Am I baffled by the seeming futility of existence? (51:0) → 'Emptiness'
Have I almost always been in collision with something or somebody? (60:8) → 'Strife'
Am I having trouble with personal relationships? Is my emotional nature controlling me? Am I a prey to misery and depression? Am I having troubling making a living? Am I existing rather than living? Do I have a feeling of uselessness? Am I full of fear? Am I unhappy? Do I seem unable to be of real help to other people? (52:2)
This represents current unmanageability.
Step Two
Can a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life solve these problems? When I wish to be moral or philosophically comforted, and will these things will all my might, do I find that the needed power is not there? Are my human resources, as marshalled by the will, insufficient—have they failed utterly? (44:4)
This represents current powerlessness.
Do I believe that lack of power is my dilemma—that I need to find a power by which I could live? Is it obvious that this Power must be greater than me? (45:1)
Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself, who can lead me beyond where I am now to a resolution of these problems? (47:2)
Have I been keeping God out of the above areas of current unmanageability and powerlessness due to lack of faith?
This represents current agnosticism.
Either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn't. What is our choice? (53:2)
Step Three
Am I convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success? (60:8)
Taking the areas of current powerlessness, unmanageability, and agnosticism:
Am I trying to fulfil any role other than actor/child, with God as the Director/Father? (62:3)
Am I playing the director—in charge of the overall plan?
Am I playing the producer—in charge of the detail?
Am I playing the playwright—in charge of everyone's scripts, including my own?
Am I playing the choreographer—in charge of everyone's moves, including my own?
Am I playing the prompt—in charge of reminding other people of their lines?
Am I playing the critic—in charge of judging and rating?
Am I playing the audience—standing back and shirking my assigned role?
These are areas of current self-will run riot.
Am I willing to quit playing God because it does not work? (62:3)
Proceed from 62:3 ("Next, we decided ...") to 103:3 ("... We have to!"), following the clear-cut directions (29:1).
Does my experience abundantly confirm that, whenever I take any alcohol whatever into my system, something happens both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for me to stop? (22:4)
Do I have any lurking notion that someday I will be immune to alcohol? (33:1)
Do I believe I am unable, at certain times, to bring into my consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago, let alone the suffering and humiliation of whenever my last drink was? Do I believe I am without defence against the first drink? (24:2)
Do I believe such a defence must come from a Higher Power? (43:3)
Identification of current problems
Is living unsatisfactory? (51:0) → 'Lack'
Am I making heavy going of life? (51:0) → 'Limitation'
Am I baffled by the seeming futility of existence? (51:0) → 'Emptiness'
Have I almost always been in collision with something or somebody? (60:8) → 'Strife'
Am I having trouble with personal relationships? Is my emotional nature controlling me? Am I a prey to misery and depression? Am I having troubling making a living? Am I existing rather than living? Do I have a feeling of uselessness? Am I full of fear? Am I unhappy? Do I seem unable to be of real help to other people? (52:2)
This represents current unmanageability.
Step Two
Can a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life solve these problems? When I wish to be moral or philosophically comforted, and will these things will all my might, do I find that the needed power is not there? Are my human resources, as marshalled by the will, insufficient—have they failed utterly? (44:4)
This represents current powerlessness.
Do I believe that lack of power is my dilemma—that I need to find a power by which I could live? Is it obvious that this Power must be greater than me? (45:1)
Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself, who can lead me beyond where I am now to a resolution of these problems? (47:2)
Have I been keeping God out of the above areas of current unmanageability and powerlessness due to lack of faith?
This represents current agnosticism.
Either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn't. What is our choice? (53:2)
Step Three
Am I convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success? (60:8)
Taking the areas of current powerlessness, unmanageability, and agnosticism:
Am I trying to fulfil any role other than actor/child, with God as the Director/Father? (62:3)
Am I playing the director—in charge of the overall plan?
Am I playing the producer—in charge of the detail?
Am I playing the playwright—in charge of everyone's scripts, including my own?
Am I playing the choreographer—in charge of everyone's moves, including my own?
Am I playing the prompt—in charge of reminding other people of their lines?
Am I playing the critic—in charge of judging and rating?
Am I playing the audience—standing back and shirking my assigned role?
These are areas of current self-will run riot.
Am I willing to quit playing God because it does not work? (62:3)
Proceed from 62:3 ("Next, we decided ...") to 103:3 ("... We have to!"), following the clear-cut directions (29:1).