MY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON STEP TEN
"Continued to take personal inventory and when
we were wrong promptly admitted it."
1. Can we stay sober and keep emotional balance under
all conditions?
Self
exam and looking at criticism with an open mind will always keep me emotionally
balanced at times tragic things happen to everyone in life not just the
alcoholic we always must be prepared for life's pain and suffering other wise
we would not know what joy and happiness really is the steps keep me focused on
defects with in myself
2. When does self-searching becomes a regular habit
for us?
Self-
searching became a habit when I started to live by what the steps have taught
me to look at my character defects and short comings my inventory did enable me
to settle with my past I was able to leave it behind me but a carefully taken
inventory did make me at peace with myself and tomorrow’s a mystery to deal
with as it happens
3. Can we admit, accept, and patiently correct
defects of the present?
The
emphasis on inventory is heavy because a great many of us have never really
acquired the habit of accurate self-appraisal by working all the steps into our
lives this keeps is balanced so we can correct our defects of the present
4. Was your past settled with in steps four thru
nine?
After
a few try’s at step four and than again in step eight with the complete
inventory and amends list I can say yes to this question today but that does
not mean things from my pass will not come up and I will again have to make
more amends this I can do in step ten promptly admit the wrong when it comes to
mind
5. How can we avoid an emotional hangover?
For me page 449 third edition of big book is my guide to avoiding these hangovers this does not happen overnight it takes practice to continue looking at yourself again for me this is how I use my sponsor he can see what I can’t see because of my tunnel vision at times I cannot find peace until I accept what’s going on and try to correct it as soon as it becomes a bother to me
6. Can you now meet the present challenges of living
in today?
With
out any question not only can I but I must because if I don’t I would be
heading straight to another bottle and ruin my whole life over not being able
to accept life on life’s terms or as I like to say Life on Gods terms not mine
7. Why are anger, resentment, Jealousy, envy,
self-pit, hurt pride so important to overcome?
Any
one of these unchecked can cause more pain and suffering than I am will to
accept today resentment is the first step to anger and rage envy is looking at
what others have and not at what God in his grace gave me self pity is a
useless emotion that can only lead me back to the bottle hurt pride is nothing
more than given others the right to rent free space in my head this could lead
to self pity poor me poor me pour me a drink
8. Did they all led us back to the bottle again or
just some of them?
For
me none of them led me back to the bottle because I had been given the Gift Of
Desperation and with the help of my sponsor and working all twelve steps into
my daily living I have received the gift of sobriety by following the
suggestions of fellowship this has kept me balance in today the here and now
9. Is self-restraint our first objective to living
this new life?
A
willingness to admit when I was at fault and the willingness to forgive when
the fault is elsewhere is what self-restraint is all about I do not go to every
argument I am invited to
Progress not for
perfection id my goal some things are best left alone after all what others
think of me is none of my business
10. What insurance do we now have against
"big-shot-ism”?
When
speaking or acting hastily or rashly the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant
evaporates on the spot nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen I have
to avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious power-driven arguments of facts
not in evidence
"There is a principle which is a bar against all
information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep
a man in everlasting ignorance.
“That principle is contempt prior to investigation”
11. Why is it important to look at credits as well as debits?
In the tenth step we have far more assets
than liabilities unlike in step four as it was important then its just as
important today serenity and peace of mind comes when I look at the many gifts
God thru His grace has given to me I also need to remember where I came from
how far I have traveled to receive these gifts
12. How do we examine our motives in doings things
differently?
To imagine that I had good motives and reasons when I really didn't if. I constructively criticized someone who needed it when my real motive was to win a useless argument these motives need to be examined what is my real motive in all this when talking about a person not in my presents I am in no way helping others to understand them I am only trying to make myself feel important mainly by asking for sympathy and attention Yes an honest regret for harms done a genuine gratitude for blessings received and a willingness to try for better things tomorrow will be the permanent assets I am seeking
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