The big book of alcoholics anonymous can be purchased at aa central or a bba meeting. The language and format is taken largely from the big book of alcoholics anonymous. As we read in the preface to the fourth edition of the big book. The online 4th step guide includes an exhaustive set of directions explaining how the guide works and a reminder that an inventory is simply a list. We have laid out the 4 th step inventory here so that it follows the big book. When youre filling out the forms, make certain that you fill out each column before you go onto the next one. Critique of chapter 5 of the big book step 4 aa agnostica. Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at. Downloadable group workbook companion to the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous aa, for adults who desire information on alcoholism and addiction recovery. Helping others newcomers is the foundation stone of your recovery. Big book step study hyannis format the primary purpose group. Read the preface and forewords to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of the big book pgs. Outline of the first 103 pages of the big book think of this document as the cliffsnote to alcoholics anonymous big book. The following is a suggested study outline with assignments for use by the step study team.
When you take inventory, you take notes or write down all that you have on hand. There are three separate inventories suggested by the big book, and each 4th step inventory worksheet has an additional page you can print for more space. May 15, 2016 there were a few steps i needed to take before i was ready to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself. On the next page is a modified 3rd step prayer which i recommend. The big book bunch 12 step workbook we are the big book bunch group of alcoholics anonymous. One version was dubbed the california 4th step guide as it was believed that the originators were located in california. If you get these 4th step worksheets anywhere else they are likely not the originals and may have been changed or altered.
Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous. Various versions could be found on early recovery computer bulletin boards bbs. The following is a suggested format for a big book step study meeting with emphasis on the fourth step. Read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. Our origins are the students of the big book group, which has met in woodland hills, california since december of 1985. Because this book has become the basic text for our society and has helped such large numbers. Nov 20, 2019 there is a 4th step guide available online for all 12 step members.
For further study, it is suggested that you get a copy of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Fourth step inventory these fourth step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. Step study outline and assignment sheets the following is a suggested assignment sheet and outlined for use by this step study workshop. One version was dubbed the california 4th step guide as it was believed that the. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this. A searching, fearless, moral, inventory 4th step guide the history of this 4th step guide is vague but it has been attributed to anonymous members of alcoholics anonymous. Before i got this book i had been putting off the fourth step for about a year and a half and once i got this book and used it as a outline i was able to finish my fourth step withing a month. You will need the big book of alcoholics anonymous. If you are interested in overeaters anonymous, please click on the image to the left. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. Originally introduced in the big book of alcoholics anonymous, the fourth step states that we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. However, as noted in the big book, this decision has little effect unless you, at once, start on your written step 4 inventory. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous.
Aa the original way 12 step guide aa the original way group. All page numbers in this fourth step inventory workshop, refer to the third edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. Many people find the big book instructions for taking the fourth step confusing. The twelve steps of overeaters anonymous may help you when all other methods have failed.
Ive also included some prompt sheets and tables to aid you. For a printable, clickable pdf meeting list, organized by daystate, click the big blue button on the meetings page. Jul 17, 2019 the book alcoholics anonymous, affectionately known by members as the big book, is the textbook for the original 12 step recovery program now known by the same name. Carry the message into donovan correctional facility. The big book is a simpler format and much more in depth, especially with the cause and effect chart. If you have a drinking problem, we hope that you may pause in reading. Read what the aa big book has to say about the fourth step pg 6471. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. This simply means taking an honest look at all of your good and bad character traits. It is suggested that before the study is completed, each member completes steps 1 12. The worksheets were created by using the precise instructions in the big book to make taking the fourth step as easy and simple as possible. What people, places or things do you resent and what led to those resentments. This guide is intended to be used as an aid to writing a fourth step inventory.
Our notes, commentary, and genderinclusive changes are formatted in italics. You will need to print several resentment inventory blank sheets, 46 fear inventory. The aa big book says on eight different occasions that we write out this step. Fourth step inventory general directions buy paper and pen and start writing. If men and women didnt exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous alcoholics anonymous this is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Everything contained in these sheets is directly from the big book alcoholics anonymous, there is no opinion, just fact. An unofficial guide to the twelve steps, edited by dr. Steps by the big book step 4 resentments steps by the. As noted in the big book, the wording of the step 3 prayer is optional.
The following outline represents the experience of certain members of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous in analyzing and utilizing this portion of the big book. You can purchase a bba workbook at any bba meeting. At the time of writing the big book, women were viewed as less than rather than equal to or, in many cases, superior to. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. You wont be sharing with the group the work you will be doing on this assignment. As this step can be difficult, confusing, or sometimes overwhelming, we created this 4th step inventory guide to help outline the process, gives some prompts, and offer some tips for. Though our decisionstep 3 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once fast followed by a. This is the 4th step out line taken from the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. He gets into the 4th step inventory very deeply because at the time he was writing he himself was going through a deep depression.
The first step of anything is a beginning, so the first step of the alcoholics anonymous 12 steps is the beginning of your recovery process. The big book explains that we must make a list that includes all our resentments we have and have ever had, an account of sexual conduct and our fears. We are looking at adopting a new format for some of our meetings, it is called the hyannis format and is based on a format developed in hyannis, massachusetts by some recovered alcoholics. If men and women didnt exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to harvest food or construct shelter, there would be no survival. These 4th step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. The history of this 4th step guide is vague but it has been attributed to anonymous members of alcoholics anonymous. One way of testing whether or not we have taken step one, is to ask yourself the question posed in the big book. A graphic guide to aas fourth step though our decision1 was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face and be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. However, while working on our step inventories we get a new perspective on the bigger picture, on patterns, selfishness, our responsibility in situations and in this process we are building up an accurate selfappraisal with true selfworth as the reward. Big book step study hyannis format the primary purpose.
A graphic guide to aas fourth step though our decision1 was a vital and crucial step. The big books approach to step 4, with its masculine focus is not only less helpful to women than it should be, it is probably harmful. Am i ready to go to any lengths to recover from alcoholism. Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Step 4 fear inventory form the big book authors indicate that the best way to deal with our fears is to do exactly what we did with resentments. Make a lot of copies of the resentment forms, fewer copies of the fear forms, and fewer still of the sex conduct forms. There are many ways to do a 4th step inventory list. The big book of alcoholics anonymous verywell mind. One difference is that the big book prayer includes.
Step 4 fear inventory form the big book authors indicate that the best way to deal with our fears is to do. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves reading. Working step four in narcotics anonymous we made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. These are the original 4th step guides and work sheetsused in the dallas b. Breaking down step one of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. By writing first, then doing the 5 th step we can look at resentment, fear and harm individually, the way it says in the big book. This guide has been prepared not as a replacement for or interference to our basic texts the big book and 12 and 12 but as a companion for the ideas and directions presented there. There is a 4th step guide available online for all 12step members. Chapter 5 relaxation focus meditations prayers step 4 39 assets and liabilities check list 40 notes. Please keep in mind that the fourth step is not dealing with changing anything. Step four made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This site is optimized for mobile devices as well as desktoplaptop computers. Breaking down step four of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this but does not suggest writing anything down. The big book helped guide me through this process, and though i repeatedly read and studied the book, this wasnt entirely an intellectual exercise. An active journey through the 12 steps schwartz, aron on. This will take you to the official website of overeaters anonymous. I have to write down all of my negative character traits. If you are using the fourth edition make sure you are on the correct page. Below we have a few worksheets available for you to download and print. Step 8 and 9 list interactive use this form in conjunction with your 4th step inventory forms see above for downloads. Only 164 pages, the first third of the book, specifically outline the aa way of life. Big book awakening 4th step workshop resentment examples and worksheets 122006 columns 14 to download the most current versions of these worksheets go to. You can share what you felt about it while doing it.