Step Ten Directions Are Not on the Wall

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

Bill W’s writings communicate the Twelve Steps to us in a very understandable manner: He often tells us what he is going to tell us, then he tells us, then he tells us what he has told us. The Step Ten writings on page 59 in the Big Book, or from the banners on the meeting room wall, are only of the first part—he hasn’t quite told us yet: He is just now setting us up! It might seem at this point that Step Ten has only two directions, but further reading discloses there are actually five clear-cut directions.

He has already told us what he is going to tell us on page 59, but now he tells us:

The first of these directions is that we discover where we are going haywire throughout the day. He explains how to do this in Step Four (pp 64-71). Then he explains how to untwist the hay wire by asking for Gods help on page 76 (Steps Six & Seven). If this doesn’t straighten things out, he tells me to talk to someone all about the tangled mess I have gotten myself into: Step Five (72-75). If I have harmed anyone during this turmoil he provides directions how to make amends: Step Eight and Nine (pp 76 -83). Then, he provides directions to turn or thoughts to someone we can help: Step Twelve (pp 89-103).

Now he tells us what he told us:

• Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear.
• When these crop up we ask God to remove them.
• We discuss them with someone immediately.
• Make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.
• We resolutely turned our thoughts to someone we could help.

Although it may take a while to get these convenient directions down pat, they are very worthwhile, because, once learned, we can complete most of this process, keeping us on a spiritual beam, in only a few seconds as we trudge through the pitfalls of each day.

In this simple process we have learned not only how to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear, but to face and be rid of their often dismal outcomes, thereby maintaining a clean slate. We are then much less burdened by the feelings of guilt and anxiety that can lead us back to the bottle.

I believe Step Ten offers me great freedom if I follow the five clear-cut directions laid out in the Big Book—however if I play a shortcut and just do it off the wall, and do a half measure, I may get only a half measure … And, half measures and half measures availed us _____. (p. 59)

By Bob S. Richmond, IN