Big Book Study: Steps 5, 6 and 7 - Divorcing from Attachments (Part 6 of 15)

Big Book Study: Steps 5, 6 and 7 - Divorcing from Attachments (Part 6 of 15)

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This AA workshop-style episode puts the spotlight firmly on the difference between just staying dry and actually changing on the inside. Presented by Chris S., this Big Book study looks closely at Steps 5, 6, and 7, with a focus on "divorcing from attachments" and moving beyond fellowship-only recovery.

Chris talks about coming into AA and throwing himself into meetings, sponsorship and service, only to realise years later that he was "shortchanging" himself on the programme. He shares how his first attempt at a Fourth and Fifth Step was basically a life story and a list of secrets, and how that approach left him stuck with the same old shame, guilt and emotional chaos.

Here, you’ll hear a clear explanation of how the Big Book outlines inventory work: resentment columns, fear questions, sex harms and relationship ideals, all designed to reveal the "exact nature" of the problems rather than just repeat what’s already known.

Chris then walks through his own Fifth Step with his sponsor, describing how he went in feeling like "a special scumbag" and came out feeling, for the first time, like "an actual human being" as his sponsor framed his behaviour as illness, not evil. From there, the focus shifts to Steps 6 and 7 as an ongoing life process, where defects of character are recognised, willingness is grown, and God — rather than self-will — is trusted to remove them.

With vivid stories, humour (including a memorable whack-a-mole analogy) and strong Big Book references, this episode speaks to anyone who’s ever wondered why meetings alone don’t fix restless, irritable and discontent feelings. If you’ve been stuck at "mere abstinence" and want a better quality of life, this session might be the nudge to ask yourself: are you really ready to go to any lengths?