For Sponsees

MY EXPERIENCE
As an alcoholic working my steps I’ve always felt uncomfortable when I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be working on in order to get through and complete each step. Often times it was a fear of me asking for clarification, but other times my sponsor either wasn’t clear or available for me to contact and meet with.
As your sponsor, I want to make sure I am clear on how to help you work through each stepand move to the next, so you never have to feel that way. I also want to reiterate that I am always here for you, available, and happy to explain anything as many times as necessary for you to fully understand. Calling me is never an imposition – you are always a priority in my life.
INTIAL SUGGESTED SHEETS
In starting out together I first and foremost want to encourage you to fill out the Trigger Sheet, the Unmanageability Worksheet, the Powerlessness Worksheet, and to use theAM/PM Worksheets everyday. The basis for the AM/PM sheets is to create a ritual (along with morning/evening prayer) as a way of grounding yourself and incorporating the program into your daily life.
DAILY JOURNALING
I also encourage daily journaling, which includes: 1. The date & location where you’re journaling at that moment. 2. A check in on what’s happened in your life since you last journaled. 3. A list of things you’re grateful for. 4. Optional: Grocery lists, to do lists, business ideas, sketches, etc.
PRIMARY BOOKS NEEDED
As a guide to working the steps, I use the TWELVE STEP SPONSORSHIP BOOK (written by Hamilton B), in conjunction with the BIG BOOK and the TWELVE & TWELVE. I suggest that you purchase this book if possible (if you can’t I will get you a copy – just ask), and then read the indicated readings for each Step outlined in this book (see below). There are other books I read (you can see the link on this site), but I suggest you start with the BB and 12&12, along with your journal.
READ ONE PAGE, HIGHLIGHT & SUMMARIZE
When you READ, I suggest HIGHLIGHTING what’s important to you and writing no more than 5 words boldly in BLOCK TEXT at the top of each page summarizing what you’ve highlighted, so you can later find it quickly by scrolling through the pages. I encourage daily reading as a ritual. See “SUGGESTED READINGS” below.
MEMORIZING, REVIEWING W/ME & PROJECTS
For each step I encourage you to MEMORIZE something pertinent to that step from the Big Book or the 12&12 (see the list below). When we get together we’ll REVIEW your readings and the questions posed in each Step Chapter from the Sponsorship Book. Then there is usually aPROJECT and/or ritual done together (you and me) to signify the end of the step and the beginning of the next step. I will reveal the project to you AFTER you and I finish the step. See “SUGGESTED MEMORIZATIONS” below.
ADDITIONAL STEP-WORK
For some steps (like 4 and 6/7 and 8) I have additional sheets and readings you may or may not wish to use, depending on your length of sobriety, whether you have done the steps before, and how deep you want to go. You can see these sheets in the PDF link on this site. The morning sheet is one I highly encourage you to incorporate into your daily (preferably morning) rituals.
IN SUMMATION
I hope this clarifies the way I see as best to go through the steps and if you have any question or suggestions please let me know. I love you and am so grateful for the honor of working with you and having your friendship and trust. And remember, these are but suggestions that have worked well for me, and helped me find a better, more enriching life. Never be hard on yourself for not doing any of this work rigorously or consistently enough, just gently remind yourself to continue working it as best you can, remembering and congratulating yourself along the way, that you are doing a lot more now for your program and life, than you used to do.
SUGGESTED READINGS
1-BB 17-43; 12&12 21-24
2-BB 44-57; 12&12 25-33
3-BB 60-64; 12&12 34-41
4-BB 63-71; 12&12 42-54
5 BB 72-75; 12&12 55-62
6 BB 76; 12&12 63-69
7 BB 76; 12&12 70-76 (Advanced: Drop the Rock Book)
8 BB 76; 12&12 77-82
9 BB 76-84; 12&12 83-87
10 BB 84-85; 12&12 88-95
11 BB 85-88; 12&12 96-105
12 BB 89-103 & 569-570; 12&12 106-125
Remember the Following 
1-BB page 417 or 449: “And acceptance is the answer… attitudes.”
2-12&12 page 32 “The fact was… Thy will be done.”
3-BB page 63 “God, I offer myself… Thy will always!”
4-BB page 60-61 “Each person is like an actor… The show doesn’t come off very well.”
5-12&12 pages 56-56 “Most of us would declare… Willing to try this.”
6-12&12 page 67 “Self righteous anger… our own righteousness.”
7-BB page 76 “My creator…Amen.”
8-BB page 58 “Rarely have we seen… The capacity to be honest.”
9-BB page 83/84 “If we are painstaking… If we work for them.”
10-12&12 page 90 “It is a spiritual axiom… Than have we alcoholics.”
11-12&12 page 99 “Lord make me a channel…Amen.”
12-BB page 89 “Practical experience… Work with other alcoholics.”