Good thread. The second time I worked through all the 12 steps with a sponsor I did it in about 3 months.
That is after a 16 month run with the boosh after the previous time I had taken the 12 steps with a sponsor and after 18 years of bouncing around AA like a circus clown.
All I can say is I did have the gift of desperation at that point and though I still struggled with the kind direction of my former US MARINE sponsor for a few weeks I surrendred to the idea that if my sponsor says something I don't agree with I will simply state "I don't believe this yet" and get going on it. And then usually believe it later but still have some of my own opinions
It did work and in the end I was then able to be of some service to others and to keep practicing all of the suggestions on a daily basis.
For me though during steps one to three I realised I had to be completely willing to shut all the doors to plan B and to realise for myself how cunningly I could take an easier softer way.
The one that I actually just completed some 19 months later was my original ammends list. I did a bunch before moving on to step 10 and left some for later that I just had to do face to face and would not be able to get to right away. Now of course there are new ones for the list or still the ones that would not respond to me in any way but the biggies that were top of mind are done.
Now I am also involved in a mens step work shop that meets once a quarter, weekly step meetings and about to commence another round of face to face 1 to 12 work with my sponsor.
Today of course it is a pleasure to try it on. Still embarrasing from time to time but so much easier than where I was
Ciao,
