Step 10

Step 10 is a further continuing of Step 4. It assumes that growth takes place over a lifetime and therefore an addict is in constant need of returning and refreshing his or herself. Step 10 like the next the two steps are often called maintenance steps in that they are rehashing earlier steps in order to in grain in the mind of the addict, the daily necessity of going through a personal inventory.

Step 10 is concerned with incorporating daily practices that help the recovering addict maintain sobriety. Hazelden defines the term inventory as taking stock of our emotional disturbances, especially those that can return us to drinking or other drug use.

In other words, step 10 is a recap of steps 4 through 9. The Big Book says that in step 10, the recovering addict should “watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God [i.e. one’s Higher Power] at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.”