1) We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2) Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3) Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5) Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6) Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7) Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10) Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11) 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.

Please Email me with any Comments or Feedback about working The 12 Steps of Recovery	Working the Steps Step1-I can't Step2-He can Step 3-I'll let Him Step 4-Inventory Step 5-Confession Step 6-Willingness Step 7-Forgiveness Step 8-Harm we did Step 9-Make Amends Step 10-Work Step 4 Step 11-Maintenance Step 12-Help Others	Primary Denial: Man dying of cirrhosis: "I don't even drink." Repression: Keeping painful, unwanted, or undesirable thoughts from entering consciousness. This happens during the "insanity" of the first drink. Minimizing: Man in court for his 3rd DWI. "I only drank a couple." Rationalization: "I didn't have any dinner so it hit me hard." Justification: "I need it. After a hard days work, it helps me relax & rest." Blaming: You nag and nag until I have to drink to put up with you. Intellectualizing: Scientists agree, smoking weed isn't harmful Bargaining: If you will go to work, I will cut back on my drinking Projecting: I'm not mad, you're mad! Besides, you are the one who drinks too much.
		A word of encouragement. Working the steps is undoubtedly the most wonderful thing that can happen to an alcoholic---or non-alcoholic. But it is hard. Sometimes too hard to do alone. Like the weight lifter or gymnast we need a "spotter" to help us. In AA we call these advisors "sponsors." A good sponsor shares their knowledge on working the steps, and on a multitude of everyday living problems. You will never have to be alone again!!

Courtesy of RFHale @ www.webpages.charter.net/rfhale

 

The 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

1) Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

2) For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our
group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3) The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

4) Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

5) Each group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

6) An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise,
lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7) Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8) Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9) A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10) Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11) Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal
anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

12) Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

FIRST STEP PRAYER: Dear God, I admit that I am powerless over my addiction. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it. Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my addiction.

SECOND STEP PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know in my heart that only You can restore me to sanity. I humbly ask that You remove all twisted thought and addictive behavior from me this day. Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind.

THIRD STEP PRAYER: God, I offer myself to Thee. To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties. That victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always.

FOURTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, It is I who has made my life a mess. have done it, but I cannot undo it. My mistakes are mine and I will begin a searching and fearless moral inventory. I will write down my wrongs. But I will also include that which is good. I pray for the strength to complete this task.

FIFTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me and be with me, in this step, for without this step, I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, and I will do it.

SIXTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward mental and spiritual health.

SEVENTH STEP PRAYER: My Creator, I am now willing that You have all of me, good and bad. I pray that You now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding.

EIGHTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my mistakes and be forgiving to others as You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. This I pray.

NINTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, I pray for the right attitude to make my amends, being ever mindful not to harm others in the process. I ask for Your guidance in making indirect amends by staying abstinent, helping others and growing in spiritual progress.

TENTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, I pray I may continue to grow in understanding and effectiveness; to take daily spot check inventories of myself; to correct mistakes when I make them; to take responsibility for my actions; to be ever aware of my negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors; to keep my willfulness in check; to always remember I need Your help; to keep love and tolerance of others as my code; and to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You.

ELEVENTH STEP PRAYER: God, as I understand You, I pray to keep my connection with You. Open and clear from me the confusion of daily life. Through my prayers and meditations I ask especially for freedom from self-will, rationalization, and wishful thinking. I pray for the guidance of correct thought and positive action. Your Will, not mine, be done.

TWELFTH STEP PRAYER: Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold. The help I have received I shall pass on and give to others, both in and out of the fellowship. For this opportunity I am grateful. I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day on the road of spiritual progress. I pray for inner strength and wisdom to practice the principles of this way of life in all I do and say. I need You, my friends, and the Program every hour of every day. This is a better way to live.

Reprinted from the book Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book) with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.