AA Steps.... all 12

[jeff_farkas]

AA Steps


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.

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

[calibud]

One of the members here not too long ago had managed to complete one of the final steps. I have not heard from, nor do I remember who it was. Whoever you are, congrats.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by calibud

One of the members here not too long ago had managed to complete one of the final steps.....

Was it Bling?
Regardless, congratulations, pal!

[circusboy28]

You can only keep what you have by giving it away.............takes a while to get your head around that one, but it's the truth......12 big steps with a lot of little ones in between

[jeff_farkas]

That's the only way I keep it is by giving it to others .. I try my best to do that each and every day.

Jeff

[circusboy28]

I've heard it said a few different ways, I've never been to a meeting in the States, been to enough here over the years though

[calibud]

Originally Posted by jeff_farkas

That's the only way I keep it is by giving it to others .. I try my best to do that each and every day.

Jeff

That signature, lol, is that true? I am at campus so I wouldn't know.

*edit, I just checked it. It does work. That is cool!

[Kølabrennern]

I had no idea AA was that based on religion. I guess discussions about religions is not allowed on this forum, but I find some of those statements nauseating.

And I don't touch alcohol.

[LPV]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

I had no idea AA was that based on religion. I guess discussions about religions is not allowed on this forum, but I find some of those statements nauseating.

And I don't touch alcohol.

ITS NOT. Big misconception.

[jeff_farkas]

True.. just because the word God is in there it doesn't mean that religion is pushed.. far from the truth. Some of our great members are and were atheists.

Jeff

[LPV]

"A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety."

[LongBeach]

Originally Posted by LPV

ITS NOT. Big misconception.

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought the same thing when I read the
12 steps you noted.

I do drink, not religious, but thought that name got tossed around a
little much. But, either way, to each their own. peace

[GNR4EVR]

Its a spiritual program of recovery, but not religious in any way. Best thing I ever got involved in. Saved my life and introduced me to a spiritual life, so I in turn have the obligation to pass it on, or that spirituality will be taken from me. And believe me, you can feel it leaving when you dont do the little things youre supposed to do every day.

[Drudeboy]

wtf has god got to do with it? can't these bloody christians keep out of anything.

[LPV]

I've chaired a few meetings that have degenerated to the point of yelling because people tried to intertwine religion and recovery. Religion in meetings is offensive to most members. The whole point is accepting that there are things beyond our control as individuals and giving up on trying to control such things.

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Was it Bling?
Regardless, congratulations, pal!

in october i did my 9th step. one of the most feared. they say steps 1 -9 help you reach sobrioty. steps 10, 11, and 12 keep you that way lol.... it took me almost 2 years to finally have the courrage to compete step 9, thanks for the support folks =) it means a lot. i havent drank in over 2 years. the last time i drank was nov 6th 2006. My frist day without a drink was the 7th. It takes more than stopping drinking though. There are people known as "dry drunks" lol

[WildeStarr]

I took the 1 step program:

I looked in the mirror and said stop being a drunk loser. Thats was July 11th 2005.
Been 100% clean and sober since then.

[jeff_farkas]

Originally Posted by WildeStarr

I took the 1 step program:

I looked in the mirror and said stop being a drunk loser. Thats was July 11th 2005.
Been 100% clean and sober since then.

Jeff... Way to go!!

[lp_junkie]

I did the same with drugs and alcohol, locked myself in my apartment for 3 months avoided everybody and went through detox at home. Been sober for 10 years now.

I couldn't do meetings, it would have meant I had lost control (I know stupid idea) and everyone would see I was falling apart.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by WildeStarr

I took the 1 step program:

I looked in the mirror and said stop being a drunk loser. Thats was July 11th 2005.
Been 100% clean and sober since then.

That's amazing. Not many people can do that!


This may sound stupid... but cigarettes really have a huge power over my life. I've quit all the other stuff I used to do, but I can't seem to get over nicotine. I keep trying to quit, but I feel like my personality changes so much. I go from being a nice guy to being completely violent and even having suicidal thoughts and breakdowns. I made it a month one time, but it didn't get any better so I broke down and bought more. I might give the patches another shot. It's just so scary to become so emotionally out of control when I am around my family!

[lp_junkie]

Jason- cigs are the one addiction I haven't beaten, I know exactly what you mean. I turn into a total dick without nicotine.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by lp_junkie

Jason- cigs are the one addiction I haven't beaten, I know exactly what you mean. I turn into a total dick without nicotine.

We'll beat them one of these days. I came closest when I did the patches. I would NEVER go with the first step patches again though. That was WAY too much nicotine. Made me cracked out, couldn't sleep... and when I finally did sleep I had the weirdest dreams. Okay, the weird dreams were actually pretty cool.

[alligatorbling]

to anyone who hasnt done the steps, at least give them some thought. the 9th step will set you free in many ways. but you have to do 1 though 8 in order to have the right tools.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by WildeStarr

I took the 1 step program:

I looked in the mirror and said stop being a drunk loser. Thats was July 11th 2005.
Been 100% clean and sober since then.

+1, I've never been one to thrive in a "Support Group" setting, although I'm not knocking it for those who it works for.

I can't deal with the religious connotations of AA, tho. With my sobriety, I have to live or die by my own hand, that's just the way I'm wired. It's been working pretty good so far, been clean and sober for almost 10 years. June 20th of this year is my ten years.

However, congrats to those are taking or who HAVE taken the steps, good on ya!

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by captain tightpants

+1, I've never been one to thrive in a "Support Group" setting, although I'm not knocking it for those who it works for.

I can't deal with the religious connotations of AA, tho. With my sobriety, I have to live or die by my own hand, that's just the way I'm wired. It's been working pretty good so far, been clean and sober for almost 10 years. June 20th of this year is my ten years.

However, congrats to those are taking or who HAVE taken the steps, good on ya!

aa is not religious. please dont call it that. we state in the preamble that we are not religious and are not tied to any religion, sect, or donimination.

[captain tightpants]

Originally Posted by alligatorbling

aa is not religious. please dont call it that. we state in the preamble that we are not religious and are not tied to any religion, sect, or donimination.

I know that, bro, sorry, I wasn't trying to say it was.

However, God is mentioned WAY too many times in the 12 steps for my liking, I don't need or want his help with my drinking problem. He didn't cause it, I did, and I will take care of it, it's not his problem.

As I said, that's what works for me, I'm not knocking what works for you.

[SKATTERBRANE]

Remember that one guy in the news who did step 9, and apologized to a woman he raped? She reported him, and he ended up convicted. I guess he forgot the "except when to do so would injure them or others." part!

[alligatorbling]

Originally Posted by Norbe

Remember that one guy in the news who did step 9, and apologized to a woman he raped? She reported him, and he ended up convicted. I guess he forgot the "except when to do so would injure them or others." part!

ive heard quite a few stories like that.

[jeff_farkas]

That's the time when the phrase "Talk to your sponsor!!" applies best!

Jeff

[frankthomson]

alcoholic or not, more people should perform the 12 steps

this would be a MUCH better world