The Directions for Taking the Twelve Steps

Please note: It is suggested that the steps be taken with a sponsor or sharing partner who is able to act as a guide,  answer questions, has a working knowledge of the Twelve Steps and has completed all Twelve Steps at least once under the guidance of a sponsor or sharing partner.

Step 1

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
This step is described on Roman numeral pages 25-32 (xxv – xxxii) and on pages 1 -43.
[The directions for taking Step One are on page 30, paragraph 2, lines 1-3.]

Step 2

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
This step is described on pages 44-60.
[The directions for taking Step Two are on page 47, paragraph 2 lines 1-3.]

Step 3

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
This step is described on pages 60-63.
[The directions for taking Step Three are on page 63, paragraph 2, lines 1-8.]

Step 4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
This step is described on pages 63-71.
[The directions for taking Step Four are on page 64, paragraph 1, lines 1-9; paragraph 2 , lines 1-6 (Assets and Liabilities Checklist); page 64, paragraph 3, lines 1-2, 6-9 (Resentments); page 68, paragraph 1, lines 1-3 (Fears); and page 69, paragraph 1, lines 1-6 (Harms).]

Step 5

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
This step is described on pages 72-75.
[The directions for taking Step Five are on page 75, paragraph 1, lines 1-4; paragraph 2, lines 1-2.]

Step 6

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
This step is described on pages 75-76.
[The directions for taking Step Six are on page 76, paragraph 1, lines 3-5.]

Step 7

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
This step is described on pages 76.
[The directions for taking Step Seven are on page 76, paragraph 2, lines 1-7.]

Step 8

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
This step is described on pages 76.
[The directions for taking Step Eight are on page 76, paragraph 3, lines 2-5.]

Step 9

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
This step is described on pages 76-84.
[The directions for taking Step Nine are on page 76, paragraph 3, lines 6-11.]

Step 10

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
This step is described on pages 84-85.
[The directions for taking Step Ten are on page 84, paragraph 2, lines 1-14.]

Step 11

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
This step is described on pages 85-88.
[The directions for taking Step Eleven are on page 86, paragraph 1, lines 1-14 (When We Retire); paragraph 2, lines 1-5 (Upon Awakening); page 87, paragraph 3, lines 1-3, page 88, lines 1-7 (Throughout The Day).]

Step 12

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
This step is described on pages 89-103 and pages 567-568.
[The directions for taking Step Twelve are on page 89, paragraph 1, lines 4-5.] (Instructions on how to carry A.A.’s lifesaving message of recovery to others can be found throughout pages 89-103.)

Copyright Faith With Works Publishing Company, Wally P., 1997, 1998 (Rev. 07/06)

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Laurel Maryland