Can Someone Please Condense The 12 Steps Into A Sentence Or Two? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

needtobefree · 02-19-2008, 09:58 AM

Hi there,

Could someone condense the twelve steps into a few sentences, about the process and what happens etc. This might be a big ask but I am genuinely interested.

Thanks!

WLDKATZ · 02-19-2008, 10:03 AM

I need to stay sober for me and my life, I need to put away the drugs for ever because they control me I need to know who me is so I will follow the guidlines set forth from countless people( family and friends) who have struggled along this path with me and I will listen and I will accept their teachings as they apply to my life.....

sounds good to me!

Hugs Prayers and support!
Pamm and Da Gurlz

Zanthos · 02-19-2008, 10:04 AM

Let go, let god, clean house, help others.

Sheryl85 · 02-19-2008, 10:05 AM

I’ll give it a go, but it won’t even start to cover it.

Through taking the twelve steps, we learn how to be dependent on a Power Greater than ourselves to become an independent, sober, contented and complete person.

Cathy31 · 02-19-2008, 10:10 AM

I'll also try :

The 12 steps are a program of action that you work together with a sponsor from 1 til 12. IT is a program of action that helps you to know yourself, forgive yourself, forgive others, build on your strengths and recognise and correct your character defects. By doing the 12 steps rigorously you transform yourself, your life and you come to know a peace and happiness never known before. It is a recipe for living life peacefully, happily, cleaning up the wreckage of the past and truly becoming whole. it is in short ,a miracle.

if i only had 1 sentence i'd say :

The twelve steps : DO IT!

miss communicat · 02-19-2008, 10:27 AM

serve or suffer

***nandm*** · 02-19-2008, 10:36 AM

A set of tools that teach us how to live life without alcohol.

Tazman53 · 02-19-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Let go, let god, clean house, help others.

That is the simplest way I have seen it put, heard it many times and can not dispute it.

justanothrdrunk · 02-19-2008, 11:30 AM

Here's a simple list of 12 things you can do so that you don't live the rest of your life miserable and alone or die in pain while alone.

RufusACanal · 02-19-2008, 02:03 PM

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition.

CAPTAINZING2000 · 02-19-2008, 02:30 PM

Don't drink, trust God, clean house and help others

best · 02-19-2008, 03:01 PM

Finding out what is broken and then...Fixing what is broken.

Holding a mirror up to the inner self so we can see what may need to be fixed.

PaperDolls · 02-19-2008, 03:04 PM

great thread, thanks!

Signal30 · 02-19-2008, 04:38 PM

Admit your an alcoholic

Believe God can restore you to sanity.

Let go. let God.

Clean house of all your head crap.

Admit, review, and reflect.

Ask God to remove our crap in our heads.

Ask God to remove shortcomings (more of our head crap)

Make a list of people we hurt, and make amends.

Make the amends. But be careful that making them doesent hurt some of them.

Continue to clean house of new head crap that comes along, and continue to admit your wrongs to others.

Learning to pray and meditate with good intentions.

Continue to do the previous steps, and help others as others have helped you.

Lets see if we can convert this into two sentences.

When doing the 12 steps in AA you admit your an alcoholic, believe God can restore you to sanity, Let go and let God, clean house of all your head crap, admit, review, reflect, ask God to remove our crap in our heads humbly with shortcomings and all.

Then after that we list the people we hurt, make amends to them being careful not to hurt them while doing it, meditate and pray with good intentions by Gods will, and help others as others have helped you.

I believe that is two sentences.

There. How's that???

Tom

1cor13 · 02-19-2008, 04:56 PM

LOVE

caraway · 02-19-2008, 05:34 PM

Wow 1cor13. Theres been some good answers but thats the best. That says it all.

mikel60 · 02-19-2008, 06:27 PM

I can't.
He/She can.
Why not let Her/Him?

barb dwyer · 02-19-2008, 06:34 PM

You were not chosen.

You were spared.

Believe you are worth it.

needtobefree · 02-19-2008, 08:20 PM

Hey this is great, thank you all so much for your responses :0) So helpful!

Another question - what or who is your higher power?

needtobefree · 02-19-2008, 08:21 PM

Meant to say - thanks Tom, that is so explanatory, I appreciate it :0)

best · 02-19-2008, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needtobefree

Another question - what or who is your higher power?

For stoppin the drinking...fear worked very well for a few years

For finding a quality sober living of life...that took Jesus.

Cathy31 · 02-20-2008, 12:42 AM

This is a very beautiful thread, thanks everyone! Really stunning, wonderful thank you!

NeedtobeFree maybe start a new thread with what is your HP...?

Cathy31
x

Jake-88 · 02-20-2008, 01:25 AM

Don't drink and you won't get F-up.
If you're not F-up maybe you'll make better chioces.
If you make better chioces chances are you're life won't be F-up
If you're life is not F-up chances are there going to be less of a mess
to clean up. But you don't have to work the 12 steps. If you don't
want to clean up the freaken mess you created becuase everyone
else around you have thier head up their butts anyways.
Beside, there's a sucker borned every minute.lol

Sheryl85 · 02-20-2008, 07:22 AM

Last night when I was at a meeting I remembered a summation told to me some time back…

The Twelve Steps = Suicide Prevention
The Twelve Traditions = Homicide Prevention

I always loved that one.:ghug

Music · 02-20-2008, 07:29 AM

My suggestion to you ntbf is to stop taking the easier, softer way, work the steps and then come up with your own couple of sentences.

02-19-2008, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
needtobefree Open Minded Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: In recovery Posts: 224	Can Someone Please Condense The 12 Steps Into A Sentence Or Two? Hi there, Could someone condense the twelve steps into a few sentences, about the process and what happens etc. This might be a big ask but I am genuinely interested. Thanks! __________________ Recovery means saying yes to health, growth and happiness, freedom and spiritual development. It means saying yes to life and to love :0)

02-19-2008, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
WLDKATZ Hell on Wheels Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Flint MI Posts: 4,455	I need to stay sober for me and my life, I need to put away the drugs for ever because they control me I need to know who me is so I will follow the guidlines set forth from countless people( family and friends) who have struggled along this path with me and I will listen and I will accept their teachings as they apply to my life..... sounds good to me! Hugs Prayers and support! Pamm and Da Gurlz __________________ Good Better best never let it rest until you kick the dog shi! out of the looser!!!!!!!!!

02-19-2008, 10:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 630	I’ll give it a go, but it won’t even start to cover it. Through taking the twelve steps, we learn how to be dependent on a Power Greater than ourselves to become an independent, sober, contented and complete person. __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

02-19-2008, 10:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cathy31 1 bite&all resistance crumbles Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IRELAND Posts: 2,160	I'll also try : The 12 steps are a program of action that you work together with a sponsor from 1 til 12. IT is a program of action that helps you to know yourself, forgive yourself, forgive others, build on your strengths and recognise and correct your character defects. By doing the 12 steps rigorously you transform yourself, your life and you come to know a peace and happiness never known before. It is a recipe for living life peacefully, happily, cleaning up the wreckage of the past and truly becoming whole. it is in short ,a miracle. if i only had 1 sentence i'd say : The twelve steps : DO IT! __________________ Sober since 22nd March 2006 by the Grace of God and the Programs & Fellowship of AA and NA Life is Beautiful! Fake it til you make it...

02-19-2008, 10:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
miss communicat Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: in the present moment Posts: 2,061	serve or suffer __________________ i close my eyes and see clearly i stop trying to listen and hear truth i am silent and my heart sings i seek no contact and find union i am still and move forward i am gentle and need no strength i am humble and remain whole (ancient taoist meditation)

02-19-2008, 10:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Zanthos Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 231	Let go, let god, clean house, help others.

02-19-2008, 10:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 6,579	A set of tools that teach us how to live life without alcohol. __________________ NOTE: All BB quotes are from the 1st Edition of the Big Book Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being too strong for too long.

02-19-2008, 11:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
justanothrdrunk Retired Pro Drunk Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 855	Here's a simple list of 12 things you can do so that you don't live the rest of your life miserable and alone or die in pain while alone.

02-19-2008, 02:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
RufusACanal Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,927	The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition. __________________ "It is what you learn after you know it all that counts." John Wooden Excerpts from Original Manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

02-19-2008, 02:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
CAPTAINZING2000 Psalm 118:24 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: ILLINOIS Posts: 9,445 Blog Entries: 1	Don't drink, trust God, clean house and help others __________________ LIFE IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD J - Jesus first O - Others next Y - Yourself last John 14:6

02-19-2008, 03:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
best Don't get undies in a bunch Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Shore MA Posts: 7,166	Finding out what is broken and then...Fixing what is broken. Holding a mirror up to the inner self so we can see what may need to be fixed. __________________ * I asked God to spare me pain. God said "No", Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. Recovery Related Acronym B. E. S. T. = Been Enjoying Sobriety Today?

02-19-2008, 03:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
PaperDolls Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 6,527 Blog Entries: 10	great thread, thanks!

02-19-2008, 04:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
Signal30 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 983	Admit your an alcoholic Believe God can restore you to sanity. Let go. let God. Clean house of all your head crap. Admit, review, and reflect. Ask God to remove our crap in our heads. Ask God to remove shortcomings (more of our head crap) Make a list of people we hurt, and make amends. Make the amends. But be careful that making them doesent hurt some of them. Continue to clean house of new head crap that comes along, and continue to admit your wrongs to others. Learning to pray and meditate with good intentions. Continue to do the previous steps, and help others as others have helped you. Lets see if we can convert this into two sentences. When doing the 12 steps in AA you admit your an alcoholic, believe God can restore you to sanity, Let go and let God, clean house of all your head crap, admit, review, reflect, ask God to remove our crap in our heads humbly with shortcomings and all. Then after that we list the people we hurt, make amends to them being careful not to hurt them while doing it, meditate and pray with good intentions by Gods will, and help others as others have helped you. I believe that is two sentences. There. How's that??? Tom Last edited by Signal30; 02-19-2008 at 04:59 PM.

02-19-2008, 04:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
1cor13 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 170	LOVE

02-19-2008, 05:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
caraway Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 559	Wow 1cor13. Theres been some good answers but thats the best. That says it all. __________________ "I've learned from my mistakes and I'm sure I can repeat them exactly." Peter Cook

02-19-2008, 06:27 PM	#17 (permalink)
mikel60 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Boston MA Posts: 654	I can't. He/She can. Why not let Her/Him?

02-19-2008, 06:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
barb dwyer same planet...different world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: butte mt Posts: 10,933 Blog Entries: 7	You were not chosen. You were spared. Believe you are worth it. __________________ Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad.

02-19-2008, 08:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
needtobefree Open Minded Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: In recovery Posts: 224	Hey this is great, thank you all so much for your responses :0) So helpful! Another question - what or who is your higher power? __________________ Recovery means saying yes to health, growth and happiness, freedom and spiritual development. It means saying yes to life and to love :0)

02-19-2008, 08:21 PM	#20 (permalink)
needtobefree Open Minded Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: In recovery Posts: 224	Meant to say - thanks Tom, that is so explanatory, I appreciate it :0) __________________ Recovery means saying yes to health, growth and happiness, freedom and spiritual development. It means saying yes to life and to love :0)

02-20-2008, 12:42 AM	#22 (permalink)
Cathy31 1 bite&all resistance crumbles Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: IRELAND Posts: 2,160	This is a very beautiful thread, thanks everyone! Really stunning, wonderful thank you! NeedtobeFree maybe start a new thread with what is your HP...? Cathy31 x __________________ Sober since 22nd March 2006 by the Grace of God and the Programs & Fellowship of AA and NA Life is Beautiful! Fake it til you make it...

02-20-2008, 01:25 AM	#23 (permalink)
Jake-88 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11	Don't drink and you won't get F-up. If you're not F-up maybe you'll make better chioces. If you make better chioces chances are you're life won't be F-up If you're life is not F-up chances are there going to be less of a mess to clean up. But you don't have to work the 12 steps. If you don't want to clean up the freaken mess you created becuase everyone else around you have thier head up their butts anyways. Beside, there's a sucker borned every minute.lol

02-20-2008, 07:22 AM	#24 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 630	Last night when I was at a meeting I remembered a summation told to me some time back… The Twelve Steps = Suicide Prevention The Twelve Traditions = Homicide Prevention I always loved that one.:ghug __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

02-20-2008, 07:29 AM	#25 (permalink)
Music Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Zion, Illinois Posts: 2,529	My suggestion to you ntbf is to stop taking the easier, softer way, work the steps and then come up with your own couple of sentences. __________________

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode