SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information - View Single Post - Step 10

jimhere · 08-07-2008, 07:10 PM

The Tenth Step is not about what I do at night or even about writing. That is the Eleventh Step. Eleven is about what I do in the morning and at night and Ten is about staying awake through out the day.

And the Tenth Step is much more than taking inventory. There are certain practices involved. Watching is an ancient time honored spiritual practice. It simply means being awake, or in a state of prayerful attention. When these things crop up, I can name them, I don't have to walk around all screwed up, wondering what's wrong with me.

The next practice is pausing. (In this respect 10 & 11) are intertwined. When I become agitated, I pause. Usually I just breathe when I do this. Try this-why wait until you are agitated to pause? Try pausing throughtout the day, like after each task. Pause for a few moments and just breathe.

After pausing is prayer Although pausing itself is prayer). I ask God at once to remove these things. Maybe I can discuss them with someone immediately, but not always. Adam's practice of discussing them once a week with a spiritual advisor is a good idea.

The next practice is amending, that is if I've caused harm.

The next practice is turning, or resolutely turning my thoughts away from the problem to God. Emmett Fox says that whatever we devote our attention to becomes our God. If I am being selfish, dishonest, have a resentment, or am afraid, I am into self. The book says to turn my thoughts to someone I can help, and any thought or consideration along these lines is prayer. In fact, thought is prayer. I just usually turn my thoughts to God. Emmett Fox calls this "The Golden Key," and I have to resolutely, or use an act of my will to do this. This is proper use of the will.

Ten and Eleven are what the book means when it says to vigoursly commence to make this a way of living. When I can live in Ten and Eleven, Twelve happens. Of course I don't do it perfectly. I still write a lot of four-column inventory and make many mistakes.

In regards to a positive inventory. There is a question in the 11th Step nightly review. "What did I pack into the stream of life today?" In other words, in what areas did I do God's will today? Usually at least one small thing a day, like practice courtesy, maybe a kind word, something like that.
Jim

Big Book references from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition

08-07-2008, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
jimhere Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 2,255	The Tenth Step is not about what I do at night or even about writing. That is the Eleventh Step. Eleven is about what I do in the morning and at night and Ten is about staying awake through out the day. And the Tenth Step is much more than taking inventory. There are certain practices involved. Watching is an ancient time honored spiritual practice. It simply means being awake, or in a state of prayerful attention. When these things crop up, I can name them, I don't have to walk around all screwed up, wondering what's wrong with me. The next practice is pausing. (In this respect 10 & 11) are intertwined. When I become agitated, I pause. Usually I just breathe when I do this. Try this-why wait until you are agitated to pause? Try pausing throughtout the day, like after each task. Pause for a few moments and just breathe. After pausing is prayer Although pausing itself is prayer). I ask God at once to remove these things. Maybe I can discuss them with someone immediately, but not always. Adam's practice of discussing them once a week with a spiritual advisor is a good idea. The next practice is amending, that is if I've caused harm. The next practice is turning, or resolutely turning my thoughts away from the problem to God. Emmett Fox says that whatever we devote our attention to becomes our God. If I am being selfish, dishonest, have a resentment, or am afraid, I am into self. The book says to turn my thoughts to someone I can help, and any thought or consideration along these lines is prayer. In fact, thought is prayer. I just usually turn my thoughts to God. Emmett Fox calls this "The Golden Key," and I have to resolutely, or use an act of my will to do this. This is proper use of the will. Ten and Eleven are what the book means when it says to vigoursly commence to make this a way of living. When I can live in Ten and Eleven, Twelve happens. Of course I don't do it perfectly. I still write a lot of four-column inventory and make many mistakes. In regards to a positive inventory. There is a question in the 11th Step nightly review. "What did I pack into the stream of life today?" In other words, in what areas did I do God's will today? Usually at least one small thing a day, like practice courtesy, maybe a kind word, something like that. Jim Big Book references from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition __________________ "I used to be good for nothing. Now I do good for nothing." ~ Chuck C.