Table of Contents
Introduction to the Updated and Expanded Edition 1
Introduction to the First Edition 5
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 6
The Neuroscience of Recovery 7
Working the Program 15
Step One 27
Affirmations 30
Consequences Inventory 32
Family Tree and Addiction 37
Addiction History 42
Abuse Checklist 51
Step One for Addicts 62
Step One for Coaddicts 81
First Step Lessons 103
Reflections on the First Step 109
The Recovering Brain 111
Celebrating Your Progress 112
Steps Two and Three 113
Spiritual Care Inventory 115
Loss-of-Reality Inventory 127
Paths to Spirituality 134
Spirituality Affirmations 156
One-Year-to-Live Fantasy 159
Letter to Your Higher Power 168
Reflections on the Second and Third Steps 169
Steps Four and Five 173
Fourth Step Inventories 177
Avoiding Personal Responsibility 177
Taking Personal Responsibility 180
Misuse of Anger 183
Positive Expression of Anger 187
Paralyzed by Fear 190
Respect for Fear 193
Falling into Self-sabotage 196
Taking Healthy Risks 200
Shameful Events 203
Pride in Your Achievements 206
Losses and Painful Events 210
Learning from Sadness 213
Beliefs about Your Unworthiness 216
Self-hatred 220
Self-affirmations 223
Reflections on the Fourth Step 225
Sharing Step Five: Suggestions for the Turning Point 226
Fifth Step Reconciliation Rite 229
Reflections on the Fifth Step 231
Steps Six and Seven 233
Affirmations 235
Step Six: Removing Character Defects 238
Seventh Step Meditation 240
Personal Craziness Index 243
Part 1 Preparation 243
Part 2 Recording Your PCI 249
Part 3 Interpretation of the PCI 251
Part 4 PCI Meditation 252
When Crises Occur-Acknowledge the Chaos 254
Reflections on the Sixth and Seventh Steps 256
Steps Eight and Nine 259
Record of Those Harmed and Amends Made 263
The Healer Within 268
Meditation 273
Affirmations 279
Reflections on the Eighth and Ninth Steps 281
Step Ten 285
Partial, Convenient, and Inconvenient Recovery 286
Balanced Equations: A Ten-Day Exercise for Steps Ten and Eleven 289
Creating a Life of Congruence 290
Day 1 Happiness = Satisfaction/Desires 292
Day 2 Growth = Change/Stability 294
Day 3 Serenity = Boundaries/Options 296
Day 4 Peace of Mind = Known to Others/Known to Self 298
Day 5 Reality = Light Side/Dark Side 300
Day 6 Achievement = Vision/Plan 302
Day 7 Intimacy = Fidelity to Self/Fidelity to Others 304
Day 8 Productivity = Being/Doing 306
Day 9 Health = Awareness/Practice 308
Day 10 Spirituality = Mortality/Meaning 310
Daily Tenth Step Inventory 312
Affirmations 313
Reflections on the Tenth Step 315
Step Eleven 317
Spiritual Quest Planning Sheet 320
Spiritual Quest Debriefing 321
Reflections on the Eleventh Step 323
Step Twelve 325
Twelfth Step Guide Affirmations 327
Sobriety Worksheets 329
Gifts of the Spirit 334
Beginning Again 335
Reflections on the Twelfth Step 338
Epilogue: Getting This Far 341
Appendices 343
A The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous 343
B A Guide for Group Use 345
C The Wisdom of the Big Books 351
D Suggested Readings 355
E Twelve Step Support Group Information 359
F Recovery Resources from Dr. Patrick Carnes and Associates 367
Notes 369
About the Author 371