Are you prepared to submit your will and your thoughts to a force that is larger than you in order to obtain assistance in your fight against addiction to alcohol? If that is the case, you have to learn how to channel that energy to get your mind back in order. Allow the ideals of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), specifically the Step 2 AA program, to serve as a guide for you as you work through the recovery process.
The Purpose: Find a Power Greater Than Yourself
The second step of Alcoholics Anonymous is meant to give its members hope and a sense of community. Those working the 12-step program know early on that they need power outside themselves to help them beat their addiction.
They are restored to sanity and mental health, empowered to make positive choices in their lives and freed from the grip of alcohol thanks to the assistance of the higher force.
Because it provides a firm groundwork, this phase comes before participants complete a moral inventory or go on to subsequent steps. It aids in the development of spiritual values and the acceptance of one’s helplessness in the face of alcoholism. It helps restore mental equilibrium and offers encouragement during the healing process. This is typically taught in support groups, but it could also be offered in a treatment facility.
Effective Ways to Follow Step 2
- Consider the things that motivate you to maintain your sobriety.
Some people worship the version of themselves that is sober and fulfilling their deepest desires. Others find motivation in an idol from their past or present, a historical figure they like, or the love they hope to instill in their children. Others rely on religious or spiritual beliefs. Whether or not your chosen higher power makes sense to other people is irrelevant; what matters is that it serves your needs.
- Share your Step 2 stories with other AA members.
The second step may be beyond your understanding if you are not religious. Perspective is something that can be gained through talking to other AA members. A lot of individuals who join AA have the same concerns and doubts as you do at this juncture. Members can help you along in your quest to learn and use Step 2 by sharing their own experiences and offering different perspectives.
- Keep your mind open to alternative approaches to this matter.
It can be challenging to take this step when your own beliefs about God or organized religion make it feel like an impossible choice. Taking this extra step might also be frightening since it reinforces the belief that you have no control over your drinking. If you’re having trouble grasping this stage, try reading it over once a day and allowing yourself to process it in whatever way makes sense to you at the time. When you reread something, you may gain a deeper comprehension of the material.
Conclusion
Step 2 has the potential to instill in us the promise of leading a life that is liberated, peaceful, and full of joy. It’s quite cool that we have the potential to heal in a myriad of different ways, as well as to develop and experience life in ways that we previously believed were impossible for us.