Resource for the AA 10th Step

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10. I continue self-examination and promptly admit when I make mistakes.

As an introduction to the step work:  

- Review Step 10 in our 12/12 book!  
- Attend meetings where Step 10 is discussed!  
- Talk to your sponsor about Step 10!  



10.1 I notice when I don’t feel well.  

Think back over the last few hours and try to recall:  

- Was there a moment when you felt good?  
- What emotions did you have at that time? Joy? Happiness? Peace?  
- What thoughts were in your mind during this?  

- Was there a moment when you felt bad?  
- What emotions did you have at that time? Anger? Fear? Sorrow?  
- What thoughts were in your mind during this?  

- Did you have any strong physical symptoms while feeling bad?  


10.2 I recognize that if something bothers me, I need to look for the fault within myself.  

Write down (reflect on):  

- Is there such a thing as justified anger?  
- Is there a legitimate grievance?  
- Can suffering lead you back to drinking?  
- What most often causes you suffering? Desires? Emotions? Thoughts?  

Write down any experience that supports the idea that:  

- If something bothers you, there’s a problem with you.  
- You need to find the fault within yourself.  



10.3 I know that my excessive desires can cause a lot of suffering.  

Write down (reflect on) whether you yearn for the following:  

- Material goods (food, clothes, car, money)  
- Security (housing, job, savings)  
- Relationships (friends, sex, love, recognition)  
- Activities, experiences (entertainment, sports, travel)  
- Self-actualization (knowledge, skills, fame)  

If a strong desire arises within you for something, practice the following (or something similar):  

- This isn’t really important right now!  
- I don’t necessarily need this!  
- It’s good here now!  



10.4 I no longer dwell on the past.  

Write down (reflect on):  

- Do you ever find yourself ruminating about the past?  
- Do you feel bad when you think about the past?  
- Would you still like to change the past sometimes?  
- Would you like to correct some of your mistakes?  
- Do you still harbor resentment towards anyone?  
- Do you regularly practice amends?  

If a painful thought brings up a past mistake, practice the following (or something similar):  

- It seemed like a good idea at the time…  


10.5 I am not afraid of the future.  

Write down (reflect on):  

- Will the future be as we envision it?  
- Does the future follow from the past?  
- Do we have to carry through with our visions of the future?  
- Can forgiveness free us from fear?  
- Is it worth sharing our problems with others?  
- Can we recognize our ego-driven needs?  
- Is it possible to let go of our ego desires?  
- Can direct amends dissolve bad karma?  

Write down any experience that supports the idea that:  

- Love and fear exclude each other.  

Practice the following (or something similar):  

- I love God!  
- I love the world created by God!  
- I love people!  
- I love the present moment!  


10.6 I can recognize the negative emotions behind bad feelings.  

When you feel bad, try to identify which emotions are behind it. What is your experience?  

- Do you often feel shame, humiliation? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel guilt, self-pity? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel apathy, despair? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel sorrow, sadness? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel fear, anxiety? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel longing, yearning? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel anger, hatred, vengeance? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel loneliness, isolation? Rarely? Often?  
- Do you often feel contempt, pride? Rarely? Often?  



10.7 I can identify the thought cycles surrounding negative emotions.  

Try to articulate what thoughts swirl in your mind when you experience the following emotions:  

- Shame, humiliation  
- Guilt, self-pity  
- Apathy, despair  
- Sorrow, sadness  
- Fear, anxiety  
- Longing, yearning  
- Anger, hatred, vengeance  
- Loneliness, isolation  
- Contempt, pride  


10.8 I see that these thoughts are related to bad feelings.  

Write down (reflect on):  

- Can negative thoughts trigger bad feelings?  
- Can negative emotions cause bad feelings?  
- Can bad thoughts lead to a bad emotional state?  
- Can a bad emotional state disrupt our thinking?  
- Does our mindset affect our thoughts and emotions?  
- Can the software of our minds be rewritten?  

Write down any experience that supports the idea that:  

- Bad programs can be overwritten.  
- Our mindset can be changed.  



10.9 I am willing to change these thoughts.  

Write down (reflect on) whether the thoughts swirling in your mind:  

- Are they always conscious and intentional?  
- Are you the "author" of them? Do they always characterize you?  
- Can they be incorrect?  
- Do they always generate the same emotions?  
- Can they be changed? How?  


10.10 I can let go of the ego mindset.  

Write down (reflect on) whether you can already let go of:  

- Negative emotions?  
- Labeling, judgment?  
- Dramatizing?  
- Expectations of others?  
- Demands from the world?  

Do you still consider important:  

- Your own opinion?  
- Your own truth?  
- The attention of your environment?  
- The love of your acquaintances?  
- Your own success?  
- Your own victory?  
- Your own happiness?  
- Your own will?  

Do you still identify with:  

- Your life story?  
- Your upbringing?  
- Your education?  
- Your knowledge?  
- Your abilities?  
- Your work?  
- Your relationships?  
- Your appearance?  
- Your nationality?  
- Your illnesses?  
- Your achievements?  
- Your possessions?  
- Your physical body?  
- Your belief system?  
- Your political views?  
- Your social status?  
- Your memories?  
- Your emotions?  
- Your opinion?  
- Your thoughts?  



10.11 I can replace negative attitudes and approaches with positive ones.  

Take out the attitude inventory you made in Step 4.11 and practice those that you feel are necessary (something like this, with your own examples):  

- I am peaceful, not aggressive!  
- I am a fighter, not competitive!  
- I am responsible, not guilty!  
- I am trusting, not dependent!  



10.12 I am willing to develop new, positive attitudes through practice.  

Read any chosen – but high-level – spiritual literature, such as:  

- Bhagavad Gita  
- The Sayings of Buddha  
- New Testament  
- Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now)  
- David R. Hawkins (The Eye of the Universe)  
- Béla Balogh (The Ten Commandments of the Subconscious)  
- A Course in Miracles  

Write down intelligent thoughts, slogans, mantras from these that you can then practice to develop new perspectives!  

CHECK QUESTIONS  

*For Step 10 of AA*  

- Do you notice when you don’t feel well?  
- Do you recognize that if something bothers you, you need to look for the fault within yourself?  
- Have you realized that your excessive desires can cause a lot of suffering?  
- Do you still ruminate about the past?  
- Are you still afraid of the future?  
- Can you recognize the negative emotions behind bad feelings?  
- Can you identify the thought cycles surrounding negative emotions (both conscious and subconscious)?  
- Do you see that these thoughts are related to bad feelings?  
- Are you willing to change these thoughts?  
- Can you let go of the ego mindset?  
- Can you replace negative attitudes and approaches with positive ones?  
- Are you willing to develop new, positive perspectives through practice?  



SHORT EXPLANATIONS 

*For the check questions of Step 10*  

- Many people, when feeling bad, think the world is bad. They don’t realize that the bad feeling is within them.  
- A fundamental spiritual principle is that whenever something bothers us, there is a problem with us.  
- One of the main sources of suffering is yearning as an ego habit. Buddha articulated this 2500 years ago.  
- The past is past. What has happened cannot be changed. Therefore, such intentions cause suffering.  
- The desire to control the future – as an ego aspiration – causes suffering.  
- Feelings are either good or bad. They are caused by positive or negative emotions.  
- Emotions and thoughts go hand in hand; they arise from each other.  
- Incorrect thoughts can create negative emotions, which generate bad feelings within us.  
- We cannot change emotions; we can only change thoughts.  
- Incorrect thoughts are created by an ego-centered mindset.  
- Only through practice can we change our mindset.  
- New perspectives correct the old and lead to healing.