“We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, ‘a design for living’ that really works.” (Chapter 2, Big Book)
Steps Ten through Twelve provide me with a practical system for living. When I rely on that, which really means relying on God, I do not need to rely on self, and I do not get myself into trouble.
- Be with God as I wake up
- Read spiritual literature daily, in the morning
- Extract lessons therefrom to apply to the day
- Devise a plan for the day each morning so I know precisely
what I’m doing and when I’m doing it
- Construct the plan around necessary preparations and the
fulfilment of obligations
- Work now, play later
- Stick to the plan: no messing around; no impulsive
alterations
- Go to lots of meetings
- Carry the message at every meeting I go to (or at least be
visibly available to do so)
- Carry the message as afforded the opportunity in online
groups
- Spend at least one hour on working days (at least two
hours on non-working days) on step work (or, if not in a step work cycle, on
sponsoring others)
- Only consort with pragmatic people who will not
countenance self-pity, self-indulgence, victimhood, avoidance, sloth, complacency,
cynicism, or rebellion
- If troubled, immediately apply the tools of Steps Ten and
Eleven: no wallowing
- If very troubled, read or listen to spiritual materials
until the solution(s) become apparent: then write them down and apply them
- I’m not done until I feel entirely better
- Never go to bed disturbed: sort it out now
- Be with God before going to sleep