Sharing our path to find a common solution.
In the beginning, I thought the Steps were like school—I would read a book, pass a test, and be "done." I spent a lot of time looking at the 12 Steps on the wall of my home group, wondering how a list of ideas was supposed to keep me from taking a drink.
What I discovered is that the Steps aren't something we read; they are something we do. Here is how we transitioned from "thinking" about recovery to "working" a program of action.
It Starts with a Guide (The Sponsor)
My experience was that I couldn't work the Steps alone. My "best thinking" was exactly what got me into trouble in the first place. I needed someone who had already walked the path to show me the way.
"Working the steps" meant meeting with another person, sitting down with the literature, and being rigorously honest about my life. We didn't just talk about my problems; we looked at the solutions.
"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action."
— Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 25
The Action of the Steps
We found that "working" the program looks different depending on where we are in the process:
- The Early Steps (1-3): This was a change in my attitude. It meant waking up and admitting I couldn't handle life on my own and asking a Higher Power for help.
- The Middle Steps (4-9): This was the housecleaning. It meant picking up a pen and paper. I wrote down my fears and my resentments, shared them with my sponsor, and began the process of making amends.
- The Maintenance Steps (10-12): This is my daily lifestyle. I take inventory at night, I pray and meditate in the morning, and I try to help another alcoholic whenever I can.
The Result: A Design for Living
Working the steps didn't just stop the drinking; it changed the person who wanted to drink. It took the "mental obsession" away and replaced it with a sense of purpose. We found a way to live comfortably in our own skin.
My Experience for the Newcomer
If you are standing at the beginning, don't worry about Step 12 yet. Just focus on Step 1. Find a meeting, get a sponsor, and start the action. We don't "think" our way into a new way of acting; we act our way into a new way of thinking.
We are beyond human aid, but we are not beyond the help of this program.
Disclaimer: This site is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. This content is shared as personal experience for educational and inspirational purposes.
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