Steps & Traditions

How I Learned to Trust My Higher Power

A member wrote, “I’m looking for a miracle. I’ve been looking for a miracle for a long time. Recently I’ve thought that if I just work the Steps, I could then have the miracle I’ve been looking for.” Wow! This statement hit me pretty hard, because it reminded me so much of my own Step Two (which took something like five years for me to fully accomplish).

By |2024-08-26T14:54:42-05:00March 25, 2007|Comments Off on How I Learned to Trust My Higher Power

Working the Steps

In college, I took a weightlifting class. I spent a great deal of time reading the textbook and understanding the techniques, but for some reason, I never got much bigger. Duh! You can’t gain muscle mass by reading a book on weightlifting.

By |2024-08-26T14:54:07-05:00March 25, 2007|Comments Off on Working the Steps

My Step Seven Inventory

Indeed, the attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.’s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. (Twelve and Twelve p. 70) I have been asking myself just what the difference is between the Third Step prayer and the Seventh Step prayer. Both emphasize turning everything over to a Higher Power.

By |2024-09-17T14:10:46-05:00June 13, 2006|Comments Off on My Step Seven Inventory

The Elevator’s Broke

I work in a building with three elevators. Because it’s an older facility, sometimes one of the elevators isn’t working. Usually that’s not a big deal; it just means waiting a few minutes longer to get upstairs to my work area. The other day, however, I came to work to find that two elevators were down.

By |2024-09-17T14:16:34-05:00March 17, 2006|Comments Off on The Elevator’s Broke

Acquiring the Solution

I believe that Steps One and Two are by far the hardest Steps, because they require no work—only belief and conviction born out of suffering. I was deluded about my understanding of Steps One and Two for many years. I hadn’t suffered enough, I hadn’t believed enough, and my conviction to change was weak.

By |2025-08-06T13:44:57-05:00March 16, 2006|Comments Off on Acquiring the Solution

Step Nine Amends

My Ninth Step amends were about changing behaviors on a regular basis for years.

By |2024-09-19T11:39:46-05:00December 19, 2005|Comments Off on Step Nine Amends

Taking Action

When I sit in meetings listening to others sharing their personal issues, I have a tendency to compare myself to what they are describing. In doing this I miss the point of my recovery. My personal truth is that listening to someone else’s difficulties makes me feel comfortable that there is a group where I can express the same frustrations. I really loved that at first.

By |2024-09-24T15:00:13-05:00September 20, 2005|Comments Off on Taking Action

Eleventh Step Prayer

Yesterday God gave me an Eleventh Step prayer. At the time, I was in my head, fussing over one of my sons, making an inventory of all the things I wanted for him. It was a typical dad-list, including things like a better job, a better education, a better place to live, and a meaningful relationship.

By |2024-09-24T15:00:07-05:00September 20, 2005|Comments Off on Eleventh Step Prayer