The original 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were created in the 1930s by two men who were struggling with their own alcoholism. These steps have been widely adopted by other 12-step programs, and have helped millions of people recover from alcoholism and other addiction. While AA is not a religious organization, many of its members do find comfort and strength in their faith. The 12 steps are as follows:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The 12 steps of AA are a proven method for overcoming alcoholism and other addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please seek help from a qualified AA meeting or 12-step program.
What are the 12 steps of AA?
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a set of guiding principles for recovery from alcoholism that were originallyintroduced in the book Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism. The 12 steps were developed by the founders of AA, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, as a means of helping other alcoholics achieve sobriety.
The 12 steps have been adopted by many other 12-step programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, as a way of helping people recover from other addictions.
The 12 steps are designed to be a spiritual journey, and many of the steps involve admitting one's powerlessness over their addiction and surrendering to a higher power. The steps also emphasize the importance of helping other alcoholics, as it is believed that this is essential to one's own recovery.
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol- that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
What is the second step of AA?
The second step of AA is admitting that you are powerless over your addiction and that your life has become unmanageable. This step is about admitting that you cannot control your addiction and that it has taken over your life. It is a difficult step for many people, but it is necessary in order to begin the process of recovery. The second step is about admitting that you need help and that you are willing to take the necessary steps to recover.
What is the third step of AA?
Assuming you are referring to the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, the third step is "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." This step is about recognizing that we are powerless over our addiction and that we need help from a power greater than ourselves to restore us to sanity. It is a recognition of our need for a higher power and a willingness to surrender ourselves to that power. It is a humble acknowledgement that we are not in control and that we need help. It is a vital step in our recovery as it sets the stage for the rest of our journey.
What is the fourth step of AA?
The Fourth Step of AA is "Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself." This step is important because it allows individuals to confront their past and present behaviors in order to make better choices in the future. In order to complete a searching and fearless inventory, individuals must be willing to be honest with themselves and look at their behaviors objectively. This can be a difficult and emotionally challenging process, but it is essential for long-term recovery from addiction.
What is the fifth step of AA?
The fifth step of AA is "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." This step is all about admitting our wrongs and taking responsibility for our actions. We need to be honest with ourselves and with others in order to move forward and continue on our journey to recovery. This step is vital in helping us to stay on the right path and to stay accountable for our actions.
What is the sixth step of AA?
The sixth step of AA is designed to help individuals become more willing to work on themselves, to improve their relationships, and to become more spiritually awake. This step asks individuals to examine their own character defects and to become willing to remove these shortcomings. In doing so, individuals are able to take responsibility for their own actions and become more accountable to themselves and to others. This step is also intended to help individuals develop a more humble attitude, which can be helpful in relationships and in life in general. By becoming willing to work on themselves, individuals in AA learn to value themselves more and to respect themselves and others more. They also learn that they are not perfect and that they can make mistakes, but that they can also learn from their mistakes and become better people as a result.
What is the seventh step of AA?
The seventh step of Alcoholics Anonymous is to seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
This step is a continuation of the work begun in Step Six. In Step Six, we become entirely ready to have God remove all our defects of character. In Step Seven, we do the next logical thing: we ask God to remove them.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous explains that many of us have been brought up with the idea that we should never pray for anything selfish. We have been taught that it is somehow wrong to ask God to do things for us that we can do for ourselves. But when we become alcoholics, all betsy-ross is off. We realize that we can't do it on our own--that we need help from a Power greater than ourselves if we are to recover. And so, in Step Seven, we humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings.
The book goes on to say that we should not expect too much from Step Seven. We are not likely to become perfect overnight. Just as we have had to grow accustomed to living with our defects of character, so too will it take some time for us to get used to living without them.
The important thing is that we have taken the first step: we have made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. As we continue to work the steps, our relationship with God will grow stronger and deeper, and we will find that our defects of character are gradually being removed.
What is the eighth step of AA?
The eighth step of AA is "Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all." This step is important because it helps AA members come to terms with the past and make an effort to improve their relationships with others. By making a list of the people they have harmed, members are forced to confront their past and take responsibility for their actions. This step can be difficult, but it is an important part of the AA recovery process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the 12 steps in AA?
The Alcoholics Anonymous foundation website contains a list of print or electronic resources that can be used by AA members and Recovery Centers. Titles include: "How It Works," "A History of AA," "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions," and the Official AA recovery program guide, the Big Book.
What are the 12 principles of AA?
The 12 principles of AA are actions that illustrate the main ideas of this organization. The first principle is honesty, and it boils down to admitting your powerlessness, which leads to steps two and three - hope and surrender. Other principles include focusing on recovery, maintaining personal contact with others in AA, and helping others recover.
What are the Twelve Steps for alcoholics?
The Twelve Steps, originated by Alcoholics Anonymous, is the spiritual foundation for personal recovery from the effects of alcoholism, not only for the alcoholic but also for their friends and family in Al-Anon Family Groups. Many members of 12-step recovery programs have found that these steps were not merely tools for defeating addiction but provided a guide to a whole new way of life.
What is Step 3 of AA?
AA Step 3 is known as “moral inventory,” in which alcoholics share their secrets and hurts with other addicts. This step helps members become honest and expose any negative thoughts or behaviors that may be hindering their sobriety.
Where can I find the Twelve Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous?
The Twelve Steps are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be found at the beginning of the chapter “How It Works.” Essays on the Steps can be read in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
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