Step 10 - Pathways Questions

Daily charting of typical personal strengths and weaknesses to check off at night:

1.  I kept my serenity when faced with traffic or other frustrations, rude people, someone trying to pick a fight with me.____
2.  I used the program for meditation and reprogramming today.____
3.  I tried to be a blessing to others today/did some kind of service________
4.  I was kind to everyone I met._______
5.  I practiced good listening._____
6.  I owe an amend to:______________
7.  I did combat with my need to future trip/obsess about something._______
8.  I minded my own business today.________
9.  I let go of my need to control._____
10.  I did not judge/criticize another person today.__________

Questions:

1.  What is the purpose of Step 10?  It allows me to continue my program by looking at what about myself that I can still improve.  It helps me to have the courage to ask for help if I need it and apologize if I was wrong - and to be strong enough to not rationalize or make excuses - simply make it right.

2.  How do I feel about continuing to take a personal inventory?  I feel good about this because it will allow me to continue making progress.  I can never say that I am done as I will change based on the work I am doing.  I need to keep looking at myself for how I can change rather than demanding someone else change no matter how much I might want to see a different outcome for that person.  I need to continue in the path to peace no matter what happens around me.  Inventory will help me see the areas about myself to change in order to maintain serenity even when I don't get what I want.

3.  What means of taking daily inventory is comfortable for me?  I took the suggestion in the book to write out typical areas of challenge for me and then taking a few minutes each night to check in about how I did with those each day. 

4.  What will help me continue to apply program tools when life gets rough?  The daily readers.  Rereading them I see new things as my life changes.  I will read all the conference literature as well as other activities like car CDs to help me reprogram myself and allow myself to grow.  I can call people in the program.  Whenever I reach out, I feel better.  I can share the program with my husband so that even if he chooses not to do it, I am sharing tidbits of wisdom so that I can discuss them with him and involve him in my life just a bit more.  Other perspectives help me know what to do.  I will continue to talk to God daily - sharing my gratitude and joys as well as discouragement.  I will ask for guidance and the courage to do what I hear.

5.  When might I need to take a spot check?  If I am having the crazies, feeling hooked by someone's words or actions as I need to examine where that comes from, why I feel threatened or depressed.  I may not be able to figure it out, but it helps to remember I am right where I am supposed to be and that I need to keep moving forward even if I am leaving others behind.

6.  In a daily inventory I can ask myself:

a.  What were the major events of the day?
b.  What feelings did I experience?
c.  How did I deal with them?
d.  Did I get myself involved today in any situation I had no business being in?
e.  What can help me to accept myself as I make mistakes again and again?
f.  Did fear or faith rule my actions today?
g.  How can I admit my wrong despite my pride and fear that it will be used against me?
h.  Am I at fault for tying for peace at any price?  What are my motives?
i.  How do I know when to make amends and when not to?
j.  What positive traits did I exhibit today?
k.  What negative traits did I exhibit today?
l.  How did I try to fix anyone today?
m.  How can I "let go and let God"?
n.  Did I abandon my own needs today?  How?
o.  Have I been too accommodating - saying yes when I mean no?
p.  Was I afraid of an authority figure?  Of anyone?  Why or why not?
q.  What small things can I do to practice standing up for myself?
r.  How did I take on anyone else's responsibility today?
s.  What am I afraid will happen if I don't take on extra responsibility?
t.  If I was wrong, did I promptly admit it?
u.  What can I do to take care of myself today?
v.  Is there something that I need to take a longer look at?  What is it?
w.  Have I done something difficult or particularly well today?  How can I appreciate myself for it?
x.  How could sharing my daily Tenth Step inventory with another person, such as my sponsor, help me?
y.  What characteristics show up most often in my inventory?
z.  What do I resist having them removed?

7.  After practicing the Tenth Step, how have my feelings about it changed?