In my opinion, alcoholics anonymous has three great humility steps in the twelvepoint program. Breaking down step seven of aa alcoholics anonymous. The first stepadmitting that one is powerless over alcoholis the newcomers task, and without it nobody ever gets far in aa. One reaches the eighth step of humility when he does only that which is demanded by the common rule of his seniors. Step two of aa in our lives i have come to believe that by being in the fellowship of aa, with the aid of the 12 steps, that i can walk through the painful times in recovery knowing that an end is near, this too shall pass and there is always light at the end of darkness, as i stay clean and continue to work the steps.
Literature talks more of faith in a higher power or of a god in step 2 than of fellowship. As the book alcoholics anonymous, first published in 1939 aa 19392001, states, we should be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble without being servile or scraping. The importance of step 1 in alcoholics anonymous is emphasized by the fact that the first quarter of the big book is focused on this first action. In christianity, humility is seen as a necessary step for submission to god. Now that we have made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to god as we understand him and have written down all the things that are blocking us, it is time for more. The mystery of the big books missing 2nd step not sure if anyone has noticed this little detail of the big book. The aa na second step, step 2 illustrated, in fine origianl. Heres a very large group of people who have solved.
None of the contributors had been sober more than a couple of years at the time. But scarcely any step is more necessary to longtime sobri. Looking back, i fi nd that i took it piecemeal myself. In buddhism, this attribute is viewed as a key element that people need to develop if they hope to achieve nirvana. Aa na al anon 12 steps, big book, recovery book al anon, alanon, book. I pray for humility and the continued opportunity to increase my faith. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. I love all of the 12 steps of aa, but step two is the one that gives us hope. The attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of. But there is a second and generally more lutheran view on humility that is. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either. Yet humility in the sense of being rightly ordered in relation to god does not translate into servility or inferiority in the 12step program. Nov 14, 2019 the second step is about keeping an open mind.
Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. For instance to know of yet to deny ones own spiritual gifts, positive traits, abilities, good behaviors, intelligence, and maturity. The big book bb notations are to page and paragraph, as in. In order to take the first step in recovery it is necessary for the individual.
Many in recovery regard the 6th and 7th steps as evidence of the programs divine inspiration, for when the book alcoholics anonymous was written only two short paragraphs were devoted to these steps. So heres the thing, quitting alcohol and drugs is a big change. In many ways, the seventh step of aa can be easier to. Everyone has hurts, problems, and a few things to do better with. Here he shares insights into step two of aa, alcoholics anonymous 12 steps. Another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another. So it is that we fi rst see humility as a necessity. Breaking down step seven of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. The first step admitting that one is powerless over alcoholis the newcomers task, and without it nobody ever gets far in aa. The second noble truth of buddhism proposes that desire is the root of all suffering. The big book has given me that comfort and the push to move forward. Schabergs book on the big book a few thoughts aa agnostica. When bill w wrote the big book he only used the word humility 2 times in the basic text first 164 pages.
But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all their life story. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into action. This and the next two steps are concerned with personal relations. Humility is viewed as a great virtue by most religious traditions. No matter what you believe in, this is the step in which you become open to the idea that faith in a higher power will help you. Anger and resentment that are allowed to smolder can create such turmoil. The big book study movement is outside of the structure of alcoholics anonymous in ireland. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. The seventh step of alcoholics anonymous urges us to embrace pursuit of humility as a fundamental aspect of staying sober. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa. Both require patience, humility, and presence, forgiveness and a faith or trust in something uncontrollable, and much bigger than me.
When it comes to ego defl ation, few steps are harder to take than five. Some of the promises are directly associated with completion of a step. Steps by the big book step 2 steps by the big book. I have the privilege to a take an aa meeting into the jail each sunday at 5. Jan 06, 2011 we often do not talk about humility until we get to step 7 humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings. Working on the seventh step requires constant thoughtfulness and commitment to being honest, courageous and humble. The paragraphs below in italics are from the alcoholics anonymous big book. Mar 03, 20 as the author of the little book writes. This tells me that all of us in aa are humble in certain areas, though we dare not boast of it.
In the big book, as the text alcoholics anonymous is known, we read the written words of the first 100 men and women of aa as they were put in the way of a spiritual. Jan 06, 2020 breaking down step seven of aa alcoholics anonymous. The mystery of the big book s missing 2nd step not sure if anyone has noticed this little detail of the big book. There is comfort in knowing you arent alone, that what youre feeling isnt unusual, and that there is a solution. How those afflictions work and how they can be healed find clearest expression in the lives of alcoholics and addicts. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every aa meeting is an assurance that god will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to him. Much of the everyday talk we hear, and a great deal of what we read, highlights.
Humility in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every a. There are two considerations for the second step of the 12 steps of aa. It works preamble into action more about alcoholism purpose of the big book resentment resentment inventory saturday saturdays second step proposition sex inventory spiritual awakening. Alcoholics anonymous steps 1 and 2 aa alcoholics anonymous step 1. Breaking down step two of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. False pride experience the big book aa big book study.
The aa na second step, step 2 illustrated, in fine. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve traditions of a. Step 2 second step prayer i pray for an open mind so i may come to believe in a power greater than myself. With the help of other early members, the founders developed aas twelve step program and published alcoholics anonymous. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. In his book, writing the big book, schaberg wastes no time dropping a bomb on any version of aa history originating from bill wilson or any of his closest associates who were actively involved in the earliest formative stages of what eventually became aa. The reason why i refer to the second step principle and not the step itself has something to do with wording thats all.
I am so tired of drinking, and i know now that i cannot leave it on my own. As the prior step was about letting go of pride, this step is about letting go of preconceived notions about what aa is and how it works, and making room for change. Its words and interpretations are left up to the reader to use as they choose. Breaking down step two of aa alcoholics anonymous jason wahler. The second bit that our lives were unmanageable, is a restatement of our powerlessness.
There are, however, additional promises in the big book. The story of how more than one hundred men have recovered from alcoholism, which is informally known as the big book. You are never too old to improve your health and quality of life. This big book study article shows where you can find the information in the book, alcoholics anonymous, that explains how and when bill w. There are about as many versions of the 12 steps as there are alcoholics in aa who use the program to get sober and maintain their sobriety. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online.
All of us should take our instructions from the big book and only the big book to be brutally honest with you. Twelve steps and twelve traditions the world famous eye opener. Humility is a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. The importance of humility in recovery alcohol rehab. We say this, because we are told in the big book that some alcoholics are perfectly well balanced and sane in all areas of their lives except for the insanity regarding alcohol. Chapter 6 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, 2nd edition. But if pride is the breeding ground of all character defects, humility is the nourishing soil of all the virtues. Aas good friend of our early years, the late father edward dowling, said that the shortest cut to humility is via humiliations, which active alcoholism offers in abundance.
Second, to get sober and to stay sober, you dont have. See more of recovery the big book, the aa way on facebook. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous. We strive for the new humility needed to look at the collective experience of those who came before us, in our fellowship or in the human experience in general. Two distinct ways of feeling bad afflict every human being. The big book is a quick history of how people can help people help them selfs with fellowship and understanding support to overcome many addictions. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aa s 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa.
Give me your protection and care as i abandon myself to you and give up my old ways and my old ideas just for today. In fact, the word islam can be defined as humbly submitting to god. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. As the book alcoholics anonymous, first published in 1939 aa. It brought a measure of humility, which we soon discovered to be a healer of pain. One of the greatest places, nobody ever talks about, in reference to humility is in the big book. Step five admitted to god, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. I believe everyone should learn and study this book and others like it to just help them make better decisions in managing their lives. Those closest to wilson are characterized as having atrociously poor memories and at times even.
Jason wahler is a reality tv star in recovery and undoing the stigma around addiction. Humility is equally vital on the path towards a useful, happy life. Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Alcoholics anonymous, 12step recovery, humility, virtue. Many people havent even a nodding acquaintance with humility as a way of life. Apr 17, 2017 a little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into action. In step 2 we humble ourselves and accept that we cant fix ourselves, opening the way to a. With step two we learn that we are not alone, and tha. Mike presents a big book study podcast and thoughts on recovery.
The second step is achieved when one thinks not about pleasing himself but instead follow the injunction of the lord. Yet, i have learned through hard fought experience that humility, just as much as honesty, is an essential element to practice step 1 to the best of my ability. First, alcoholics anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this step. A fact, but for so many today fellowship is the power that comes to us first, with the contemplation of god coming later. False humility on the other hand, is to belittle ones self or take a false view or statement of ones self in a belittling way. Moving into step seven actually involves us in the personal change of actively letting go of our shortcomings, actions and feelings that are liabilities. Miracles in progress 12 step recovery forums step work step work step 2 aa. Here are the steps we took by clarence snyder big book. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover.
Cultivating a strong sense of real humility through the seventh step of alcoholics anonymous is a major key in achieving that goal and evolving as a person. Jul 04, 2017 michael taylor on thoughts on recovery no. Chapters 3 through 7 are a narrative journey through all 12 of the steps and at each point in the journey, author highlights the point in the journey when each steps occurs in this narrative. In the second step the word power has a capitalized p i. The paragraphs below in italics are from the alcoholics anonymous big. This is a reference tool to help us improve our knowledge of the big book that we may profit more from its reading, both at meetings and in individual study. Humble in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Dr bob, one of the cofounders of alcoholics anonymous, had a plaque on his desk defining humility. But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we. Second, to get sober and to stay sober, you dont have to swallow all of step two right now. We identify places and individuals, highlight issues, trace allusions, and put passages in the.
It is the main breeder of fear, a soulsickness in its own right p. This echoes language in the big book cautioning us that resentment is the biggest offender. Developing humility allows you to reconnect with your inner authentic soul that was buried beneath the ego and hubris of addiction. A little ditty on the big book, alcoholics anonymous into. Thank god i now have second thoughts and why i must take my info from our basic text, the big book of alcoholic anonymous. Right there on page 63 in the third step it says we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. Thus seen, recovery is a lifelong process of surrendering the one and growing in the other. Our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book.