(Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly

Bill W’s writings communicate the 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

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 haywire by asking for God’s help on page 76

(Steps Six & Seven). If this doesn’t straighten things out, he tells us to talk to

someone all about the tangled mess we have gotten ourselves into: Step Five

(72-75). If we 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 our thoughts to someone we can help: Step Twelve (pp

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

And, half measures availed us _____. (p. 59)