Twelve Steps

Self-will vs. God’s will September 15, 2023 The difference between self-will and God’s will in the Twelve Steps lies in the shift from relying solely on our ego-driven decisions and actions to acknowledging the need for external guidance, support, and surrendering to a higher power as part of the process of recovery from addiction. The…

Principles of the Twelve Steps September 8, 2023 Step Twelve says, “…practice these principles in our lives.”  So, what principles of the Twelve Steps does that mean?  Recovery from addiction often involves acquiring several values and principles instrumental in maintaining sobriety, fostering personal growth, and building a healthier, more fulfilling life. While the specific principles…

Higher Power September 1, 2023 The term “higher power” refers to a spiritual or supernatural force that we can turn to for guidance, support, and strength during our journey of recovery. Higher Power The concept of a higher power doesn’t necessarily correspond to any specific religious deity or belief system. It’s intentionally left open-ended to…

Amends August 9, 2023 Amends refer to making reparations or making right the wrongs that we have committed in our past, particularly those related to our addictive behavior, or the harm caused to others due to our actions. Step Nine Step Nine of the Twelve Steps states: “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible,…

Spiritual Awakening August 14, 2023 A spiritual awakening, within the context of the twelve steps of recovery, refers to a profound and transformative experience that shifts our perception, beliefs, and connection to a higher power or spiritual dimension. It is a deeply personal and subjective experience that often occurs as a result of working through…

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our lives. spiritual awakening – refers to a profound shift in an individual’s perception, understanding, or experience of spirituality or their connection to a higher power, divine essence,…

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out. conscious contact – relates to our awareness and connection with our Higher Power or spiritual realm. It involves developing a deep and intentional relationship with…

“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” personal inventory – means nightly or periodically, we sit down and review our day(s). when we were wrong – means as we review our day(s), we access each action with steps and determine what we need to learn, and if we need…

“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” direct amends – means directly reaching out in-person, by phone or by letter. would injure them or others – means we might bring up old harms that might cause trouble for the one harmed.  Step Nine involves…

“Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.” Made a list – only make the list first. we had harmed – those we identified in Step Four willing to make amends – willing to take responsibility for our actions and make things right Step Eight…