Steps By The Big Book

[bluidkiti]

SESSION 7

STEP 3 How it Works pp. 58 - 64

Step 3 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.

The keystoneof the new and triumphant arch. (62: 3) A beginning. (63: 3)

Step 3 written inventory

Take Step 3

I ON YOUR OWN: STUDY – What did the Big Book authors say?

• READ Read Chapter 5, How it Works, pp. 58- 64: 0.Many will also read Step 3 in the 12&12.

• WRITE Write about your thoughts and reflections on this chapter and the focus questions.

• TALK Call your sponsor and other members of the group to discuss the reading and your reflections.

• PRACTICE DAILY MEDITATION / PRAYER

II WITH THE GROUP: PRACTICE – What does the Big Book say to me about my practice of Step 3?
The first part of Chapter 5 is often read at meetings. Have you ever thought about what How it Worksmeans to you? Have one or more members of the group share their experiences with working Step 3 by the Big Book. Consider sharing your written reflections on the Step with the group.


Points of Focus and Reflection (Consider pp. 60: 3-63: 3)
1.) The Problem of Self
a.) Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show. (60: 4)

• Our actor is self-centered … Are not most of us concerned with our resentments, our self-pity, or ourselves? (61: 2)
• How am I like an actor? (60: 4) What roles, what masks, what characters do I play? Are these old worn out defenses? [See 73: 1; Optional 12&12, 57: 1]
• Am I almost always in collision with something or some body? (60: 4)

b.) The show doesn’t come off. (61: 1)

• Where do I think that life does not treat me right? (61: 1)
• Where do my actions make the other players wish to retaliate and snatch all they can get out of the show? (61: 1)
• In my own life, am I familiar with the progression: anger => indignation => self-pity? (61: 1) Describe in detail.

• In what ways does the following describe me? Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well? (61: 1) [Is this the essence of Step 1?] -What do delusion (30: 2; 61: 1), denial (10: 1), and manages mean to me?

c.) So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. (62: 2)

• Do I think my troubles are of my own making? What does this mean?
• How do my reactions to life events make me suffer? Be specific.
• Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. (62: 1)
• Where in the past have I made decisions based on self that later placed me in a position to be hurt? (62: 1) Be specific and give details. [See what self-instincts can be threatened, and that we react to, in the Third Column in Step 4, p. 65: 2]

2.) The Solution: The God Idea (45: 3; 52: 3)

• We alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. (62: 2)
• How has my playing God worked, or not worked, to give me serenity?
• We had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. (62: 3)
• When did I stop playing God?

3.) The Program of Action

• Can I make a decision to turn my life and will over to a higher power, just for today?
• In what ways am I taking action on Step 3 when I abstain from alcohol and work the remaining Steps?
• Step 3 Promises: Is it possible that I could enjoy peace of mind, face life successfully, and lose [my] fear? (63: 1) How?

III DAILY PRACTICE OF STEP 3 PRINCIPLES

• How does Step 3 allow me to build on the surrender I have developed in Step 1 and Step 2?
• Am I fighting anything in recovery? What do I think would happen if I became willing to let recovery prevail in that area of my life?
• How may I reaffirm my decision on a daily basis and continue to take the action of working the rest of the Steps?
• How may I decide to let go today, and surrender to being in unison with life?

……………………………………………………………………………
IV TAKE STEP 3 We take Step 3 in the second paragraph on page 63.
Have we decided that we are the agents of the higher power of our understanding? (62: 3) [See also 49: 1; 68: 3] Are we willing to decide to let go of our need to control, just for today?
According to the Big Book, and under the conditions of this day, we take Step 3.
Some groups acknowledge taking this Step by reciting the great Third Step Prayer. Others will join hands and recite the Step. Feel free to do what is appropriate for you and the group.

pp. 30-31
http://www.stepsbybigbook.net/