I am starting the steps. I am unclear exactly what questions I should be answering for step 1. Some questions I have read are:
Do I accept that I am powerless over alcohol and that our lives ad become unmanageable?
List 10 things I am powerless of
What does powerless mean to me
How can I let go of trying to control today?
How is my life unmanageable?
What small program tool will help with this?
Any help would really be appreciated and thanks in advance. Jenny
BlueCloud said
Jul 22, 2013
Hi Jen,
The book Pathways to Recovery has a chapter devoted to each step (and tradition and concept) with a long list of helpful questions applicable and specific to each step. BlueCloud
Jerry F said
Jul 22, 2013
Aloha Jen...good courage from the start. If you've got a sponsor to work this with do so s l o w l y. Those questions were so greek to me when I first started and crazy because as an analytical I still didn't know about the disease and didn't know that I didn't know. Sitting down and listening with an open mind was the first promise Al-Anon made to me that came true. This is a good start...go slow; take your time. The consequences are great.
In service and support (((hugs)))
neshema2 said
Jul 22, 2013
Jerry F wrote:
Those questions were so greek to me when I first started and crazy because as an analytical I still didn't know about the disease and didn't know that I didn't know. Sitting down and listening with an open mind was the first promise Al-Anon made to me that came true. This is a good start...go slow; take your time. The consequences are great.
I am so glad I am not alone....I am a cert. pub. bookkeeper...everything is 2 plus 2 is 4.....analytical....no grey areas or forensic stuff....so yea for me it was total greek as well.....I had to just search my heart, let it kinda seep in ?? by ?? and let my emotions and feelings kick in along w/my mind, and yea, I learned too, EASY DOES IT
Hey Jen...Good start.....I hope you have a sponsor to help you with this...it makes it go easier and of course you are going to have ???s.......Good to see U workin it.....AND the steps are not just do it once and its done........noooo i work em continually....and maybe i jump around.....like if i say something hurtful to another , yea, I do a quicky step 10 to see why, but the amend I need to make if it really is my "bad" I make the amend.....the steps are habit...a habit I gotta work and work and work.....there is never a "graduation" we progress.......not achieve perfection..........waaaay to go, Jen....Happy "stepping"......
Breakingfree said
Jul 22, 2013
There is a step board on MIP and it has helped me after I worked my first set of steps with my sponsor to go through them here and see if I am stuck anywhere and to do some house cleaning within. I hope you can find someone to do them with you. Sending you love and support!
Jen61 said
Jul 22, 2013
Thanks everybody. I did just find a sponsor at my f2f meetings and I am excited about starting the steps. It will be a good experience for sure. Thanks again for all of your support.
PP said
Jul 22, 2013
I so love to read posts such as yours...stay with the steps and you will learn how to apply them to all life's situations. If our world practiced the 12 steps, it would be much happier. Keep coming back here for our support, and, we always learn something from new perspectives!
pinkchip said
Jul 22, 2013
There is much that I am powerless over. Through the steps, I have come to realize this is not a bad thing. I am quicker now to utilize my physical, mental, and spiritual resources on on either acceptance of things I can't change or working towards things I can change and actually want to. Hence, for me, this step is the beginning of finally understanding and making use of the serenity prayer. And that is a simple but VERY valuable program tool.
orchidlover said
Jul 25, 2013
well I am certainly powerless over the ability to control anyone else but myself. I think for me that was so key in looking at someone else's addiction. I could not stop it, control it or manage it.
In al anon we talk about the three C's about control and cause.
I can be extremely controlling around other people. Now I set limits. Of course the limits are not that perfect and as someone in recovery I had to learn to let go of perfection.
I do have limits these days and I do honor them. I had no limits before recovery especially when it came to other people's problems. Now I do. I will not do for others what they should do for themselves.
Working the steps is a big part of recovery. Having a sponsor is one way to have help along the way. There are many people who sponsor and they can be a real addition to a recovery program.
Maresie.
SILYBILM2 said
Sep 10, 2019
Hi,
What is MIP? Please and thank you so so much
bud said
Sep 10, 2019
Silybilm2 - MIP is abbreviated for Miracles In Progress, this is the name for our online Alanon group. There is also a link to step board to work the steps along with the forum.
I am starting the steps. I am unclear exactly what questions I should be answering for step 1. Some questions I have read are:
Do I accept that I am powerless over alcohol and that our lives ad become unmanageable?
List 10 things I am powerless of
What does powerless mean to me
How can I let go of trying to control today?
How is my life unmanageable?
What small program tool will help with this?
Any help would really be appreciated and thanks in advance. Jenny
Hi Jen,
The book Pathways to Recovery has a chapter devoted to each step (and tradition and concept) with a long list of helpful questions applicable and specific to each step. BlueCloud
Aloha Jen...good courage from the start. If you've got a sponsor to work this with do so s l o w l y. Those questions were so greek to me when I first started and crazy because as an analytical I still didn't know about the disease and didn't know that I didn't know. Sitting down and listening with an open mind was the first promise Al-Anon made to me that came true. This is a good start...go slow; take your time. The consequences are great.
In service and support (((hugs)))
I am so glad I am not alone....I am a cert. pub. bookkeeper...everything is 2 plus 2 is 4.....analytical....no grey areas or forensic stuff....so yea for me it was total greek as well.....I had to just search my heart, let it kinda seep in ?? by ?? and let my emotions and feelings kick in along w/my mind, and yea, I learned too, EASY DOES IT
Hey Jen...Good start.....I hope you have a sponsor to help you with this...it makes it go easier and of course you are going to have ???s.......Good to see U workin it.....AND the steps are not just do it once and its done........noooo i work em continually....and maybe i jump around.....like if i say something hurtful to another , yea, I do a quicky step 10 to see why, but the amend I need to make if it really is my "bad" I make the amend.....the steps are habit...a habit I gotta work and work and work.....there is never a "graduation" we progress.......not achieve perfection..........waaaay to go, Jen....Happy "stepping"......
I so love to read posts such as yours...stay with the steps and you will learn how to apply them to all life's situations. If our world practiced the 12 steps, it would be much happier. Keep coming back here for our support, and, we always learn something from new perspectives!
well I am certainly powerless over the ability to control anyone else but myself. I think for me that was so key in looking at someone else's addiction. I could not stop it, control it or manage it.
In al anon we talk about the three C's about control and cause.
I can be extremely controlling around other people. Now I set limits. Of course the limits are not that perfect and as someone in recovery I had to learn to let go of perfection.
I do have limits these days and I do honor them. I had no limits before recovery especially when it came to other people's problems. Now I do. I will not do for others what they should do for themselves.
Working the steps is a big part of recovery. Having a sponsor is one way to have help along the way. There are many people who sponsor and they can be a real addition to a recovery program.
Maresie.
Hi,
What is MIP? Please and thank you so so much