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Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Step Work -> Step Work -> Tenth Step AA
Post Info TOPIC: Tenth Step AA
Dan B 76


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Tenth Step AA
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Step 10 AA

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past.  BB pg 84

 Through the action steps we had been dealing with the past.  We had taken an inventory, cleaned our house and built an arch through which we shall walk free.  The seeds for our spiritual life have been planted, taken hold and began to grow.  Step 10 is the beginning of our maintenance program.  We need to continually maintain our spiritual progress.  Our spiritual program will not be stagnant it will either progress or regress.   Our daily inventory suggested by step 10 ensures that our spiritual program will continue to grow.

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.  BB pg 85

 

At one point in my sobriety I was not working the 10th step as put for the in the Big Book.  I was not taking a daily inventory or making amends when I was wrong.  This was also a time when I was not attending meetings on a regular basis.  Through the grace of God I did not use, however I put myself back at step 4.  I again had to work steps 4 through 9 to get back onto a strong spiritual program.  This was a learning experience for me, work the steps as directed.  We thought we could find an easier softer way, half measures availed us nothing. BB pg 58 & 59  It was apparent that this was very true for me.  I thought that I had found an easier softer way and I only took half measures and it brought me to a point of spiritual regression.   Today when I am wrong I promptly admit it.  I cannot afford to wait until I see the person next time as I have learned that this procrastination, another of my defects, will enable me to justify my way out of making the amends. 

We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.  BB pg 84

Today I work the 10th step on a continuous basis.  There are different approaches to how the 10th step is worked.  Some do a daily review of their day at night, some write things down.  The wonderful thing about AA is there is no right or wrong way to work a step as long as you put in your best effort.  Each individual has to work out for themselves how this step will work the best for them.  For me I reflect through the day I make amends immediately I continually ask God for strength and guidance.  It is through working the 10th step that I can live a life of love and tolerance for others.

 

Please share your experience, strength, and hope of your 10th step process.



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Wolfie55


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I had an opportunity to work the tenth step earlier this evening. Not the actual daily inventory but the down in the trenches action of the step. I have been posting quite a bit on both the AA and Al-Anon boards. I posted a topic which contained a controversial statement within it. Naturally, a lively discussion followed. And then I heard something I didn't like, more to the point I misunderstood what someone said, my ego kicked in, I became flippant and responded by posting an inappropriate reply. I guess I'm not all better yet.

One of the older members was offended by my remark and rightly so because it was an offensive remark. It seemed like a good thing to say at the time but as I reread it I realized that I was being selfish and inconsiderate of others, maybe even a newcomer who might have read that comment, might go away and never come back, I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

So I had a quick chat with my higher power and realized right away what needed to be done. I deleted the comment immediately, apologized to the person I offended and posted an apology for the benefit of anyone else who may have been upset by my remark. I have managed to keep the friendship I have with the other member who I deeply admire and respect.

I wasn't going to start posting here until you returned to step one but I thought this was a perfect time to cut in.

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Not all of my days are priceless, but none of my days are worthless, anymore.
Fyne Spirit


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Step 10, the first of the "living steps" was a step the purpose of which I felt I could understand even before taking most of the preceeding steps. It is one I took at face value, it just seemed obvious to me that this step prevents me from making a new mess. I tried to practice this on a daily basis right from very early days and it helped me keep the slate reasonably clean from the day I started. It didn't fix the nightly horrors however, other steps did that (4+5) in particular.
The writing that Dan quotes, pages 84 and 85 clearly describe what happened to me through the steps, the obsession was lifted, sanity returned, and it really did appear that this happened with no real effort from me. I coudn't decide which socks to wear so I was hardly going to be able to engineer a major psychic change on my own power. The rider is that I must stay in fit spiritual condition and step 10 shows me in part how to do that.
My 4th step plays a part in this. It was influenced quite a bit by the Hazelden material available at the time along with the Big Book, and it is a document I have kept and I review it periodically. While step 10 tells me to watch for fear, selfishness, resentment, and dishonesty, when I look at my 4th I see many more defects, anger, lust, sloth, envy,(they all go back to the Big Book four) etc. I still have these defects, they are part of my make up, but to a large extent they have been removed or at least reduced, except when I start to take them back. I don't dwell on them, I try to follow the suggestion to carry the vision of God's will into all my activities.
And when we were wrong, promptly admitted it-- Last year while pulling up my mooring rope a barbed fish hook pierced my thumb. I knew if I left it, it would begin to hurt, so I pulled it out straight away and avoided a lot of pain. That is how the latter part of this step works for me. When I make a mistake it hurts a lot less if I fix it quick. I really can't afford to let something fester, it will cost me my spiritual fitness and we all know what that means.

God bless,
MikeH.

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Fyne Spirit
Wolfie55


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....If I make a mistake it hurts a lot less if I fix it quick...

So true Mike



-- Edited by Wolfie55 on Tuesday 10th of April 2012 06:57:45 PM

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Not all of my days are priceless, but none of my days are worthless, anymore.
runguy


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Step 10 calls for constant vigilance about the way we approach the world and our interactions with other people. I might be in a good place at noon but by 3 p.m. it's possible that someone will say or do something to set me off and sometimes I respond by lashing out or attacking or being obnoxious. And then I have to go back to Step 10. So it's an hourly practice, and we aren't always successful.

Wolfie, the important part is that you recognized the mistake. For me one of the most important words in Step 10 is "promptly" -- It doesn't say wait a week or two, so as long as you admitted it "promptly" you're on your way. I think you handled that in a good way. I have learned through being in AA not to wait to apologize and that helps me to leave it behind.

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