Our primary purpose is to simply share our experience, strength and hope with those who suffer from the illness of alcoholism and addiction. Helping them recover hope and be restored to sanity using AA's 12 Steps.
This study guide is not meant to replace the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, it is meant to be used along with it. We are seeking a deeper Spiritual experience that we can transmit to others and grow in affective understanding. Always praying to discover our own truth and live in contented sobriety.
Our study approach turns Big Book statements into questions we consider for ourselves, it's a way to internalize the AA recovery message from our own point of view. We compare our experiences, the way we drank/used, thought and felt, with those described in AA's Big Book. We're always looking for similarities not differences.
When we relate to any BB example or statement we pause and consider why? What's my experience with this,? Did this happen to me,? Did I feel like this,? Did I think like this,? or Did I drink/use like this? 'Consideration' is just willingness to keep an open mind. (Some BB quotes are paraphrased for the sake of clarity and to structure a question).
Our Big Book doesn't clearly mark my first 2 Steps, but these (A,B.C's), are ideas found in the Dr.s Opinion and the first 4 chapters. If I can match them with facts from my own experiences, then I'll be convinced this text describes my problem and solution.
Many meetings read aloud this portion of "How It Works" (Pg.60,¶3,L12)
Our description of the Alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas;
- (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
- (b) That probably no human power could have relieved us of our alcoholism.
- (c) That God could and would if He were sought.
But whats not usually read is the next attention grabbing sentence;
"Being convinced, we were at Step Three" (Pg.60,¶3,L20).
Am I Convinced of these 3 Pertinent Ideas?
(Bill W's original manuscript read); "if we were not convinced, we ought to re-read the book to this point or else throw it away." Once I'm convinced, I become interested in what else the authors know and what they did next. So I might 'thoroughly follow their path' by taking the same actions!
"Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol" (Pg.76,¶3,L24) So I must keep these quotes in mind;
"The terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms." (Pg.567,¶1, LP.183)
"Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable."
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance, that principle is contempt prior to investigation." ~Herbert Spencer (Pg.568,¶3,LP.184).
Starting Considerations