Steps By The Big Book

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STEP 12 PASS THIS ON (94: 1) PRINCIPLES FROM THE BIG BOOK

…When all other measures failed, work with another alcoholic

would save the day. (Bill’s Story, 15: 1)

This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. (89: 1)

. . .

• When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. (90: 1)
• Realizing [you] are dealing with a sick person. … Put yourself in his place. (90: 1,2) So cooperate; never criticize. (89: 3)
• Don't deal with him when he is very drunk.... (90: 3)
• If he does not want to see you, never force yourself upon him. (90: 4)
• You might place this book where he can see it in the interval. (90: 4)
• See your man alone [without…family], if possible. (91: 3)

. . .

• Tell him enough about your drinking habits, symptoms, and experiences to encourage him to speak of himself. If he wishes to talk, let him do so. (91: 3)
• …Give him a sketch of your drinking career up to the time you quit. But say nothing, for the moment, of how that was accomplished. (91: 3)
• When he sees you know all about the drinking game, commence to describe yourself as an alcoholic. (91: 4)
• Give him an account of the struggles you made to stop. (92: 0)
• Show him the mental twist which leads to the first drink of a spree. (92: 0)

. . .

• And be careful not to brand him as an alcoholic. (92: 1)
• If he sticks to the idea that he can still control his drinking, tell him that possibly he can - if he is not too alcoholic. But insist that if he is severely afflicted, there may be little chance he can recover by himself. (92: 1)
• Continue to speak of alcoholism as an illness, a fatal malady. (92: 2)
• Talk about the conditions of body and mind which accompany it. (92: 2)
• Even though your protégé may not have entirely admitted his condition, he has become very curious to know how you got well. Let him ask you that question, if he will. (92: 2-93: 0)

. . .

• Tell him exactly what happened to you. (93: 0)
• ... Make it emphatic that he does not have to agree with your conception of God. He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him. (93: 0)
• Let him see that you are not there to instruct him in religion. (93: 2)
• Outline the program of action.... (94: 1)
• Make it plain he is under no obligation to...see you again if he doesn't want to. (94: 1)

. . .

• Your candidate may give reasons why he need not follow all of the program. ... Do not contradict such views. (94: 2)

• On your first visit tell him about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. If he shows interest, lend him your copy of this book. (94: 2)
• ...Do not wear out your welcome. Give him a chance to think it over. (95: 1)
• ...You will be most successful with alcoholics if you do not exhibit any passion for crusade or reform. (95: 1)
• Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection. (95: 1)

. . .

• Show him how they [the Steps] worked with you. (95: 1)
• Offer him friendship and fellowship. (95: 1)
• Tell him that if he wants to get well you will do anything to help. (95: 1)
• ...If he expects you to act only as a banker...or a nurse for his sprees, you may have to drop him.... (95: 2)
• If he is sincerely interested and wants to see you again, ask him to read this book in the interval. (95: 3)

• If he thinks he can do the job in some other way...encourage him to follow his own conscience. (95: 4)

. . .

• Suppose now you are making your second visit to a man. He has read this volume and says he is prepared to go through with the Twelve Steps of the program of recovery. Having had the experience yourself, you can give him much practical advice. (96: 2)
• Though an alcoholic does not respond, there is no reason why you should neglect his family. ... The family should be offered your way of life. (97: 3)
• The minute we put our work on a ‘service’ plane, the alcoholic commences to rely on our assistance…claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. (98: 1)
• Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. (98: 2)
• When working with a man and his family, you should take care not to participate in their quarrels. (100: 2)
• We are careful never to show intolerance or hatred of drinking as an institution. (103: 1)

. . .

• Be sober, considerate, and helpful, regardless of what anyone says or does. (99: 1)

We may read Chapter 8, To Wives; Chapter 9, The Family Afterwards; Chapter 10, To Employers and Chapter 11, A Vision for You. These chapters teach us how to practice the Twelve Step principles in all our affairs.


Some of us may immediately begin working through the Steps again with the perspective that we have gained from our journey thus far.


pp. 99-100
http://www.stepsbybigbook.net/