12 Steps To Recovery

[HarryH]

Going through the process of the 12 Steps To Recovery, as laid out in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and as the first 100 have done it, has given me a "New Design for Living." Not only has the process given me this new way of living, that really works, but it has given me freedom. Freedom from self. And through this process I have also surrendered to win. Surrendered to God and to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The solution that I have found in this process is trust and reliance in God. For with God, all things are possible.

The promises are coming true for me a little at a time.

And this doesn't mean that I am cured by any means and that I have to stop asking for help and going to meetings. This is a lifetime process, and as I have found out, I can only keep it by giving it away. Through service work, speaking on commitments and helping out the newcomer whenever I can. Today, it is about others.

As stated in the Big Book, there are 3 pertinent ideas:

(a) That I am an alcoholic - and my life was unmanageable.

(b) That no power on earth could keep me away from a drink....and

(c) That God could, if He were sought.

I have come to believe and the obsession has been lifted. Which is contigent on maintaining Spirtual Maintenance on a daily basis.

The 12 Steps of Recover really work, if you work them.

God Bless

Harry

[MootPoint]

Good to hear from you Harry! Its great to hear success stories.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by HarryH

I have come to believe and the obsession has been lifted.

Yep. I share that belief Harry. Thanks for a great post.

[lulu70]

I am Laura and I am an alcoholic. I, too, have seen the steps work in my life and in the lives of others. I am just finishing my fourth step and will do my fifth this weekend with my sponsor. I can't say I have no worries about it, but I am looking forward to having it done. Thank you for the post, Harry. It is good to be reminded of how simple this program really is. Many of us are guilty of trying to over-intellectualize it (could I be talking about myself, perhaps?... ) I know I only truly reap the benefits when I keep it simple, and follow the directions.

Your sister in faith,
Laura

[1Marty]

Great job of conveying the message Harry! I share those beliefs too.

Good luck on working your 5th step this weekend Lara! I shared my 5th with my sponsor 3 weeks ago. Then went home and did 6 and 7. Awesome experience!

[MootPoint]

Good luck on your 5th, Laura. You will feel loads lighter when you are done!

[HarryH]

Congratulations Laura. It is always good to hear about the progress that other people are making on the road to recovery.

And as Moot Point stated: "You will feel loads lighter when you are done!"

Yes, this is a simple program, but that does not make it easy. It took me two years to get around to going through the process of the Steps. I just felt that there had to be more than "Just Don't Drink." And there is. What this process is doing for me is amazing. I really like the person I am today and am willing to make improvements.

Taking the 3rd Step I made a decision to let God into my life and and put my trust and reliance in Him. He either is, or He isn't, and for me today, He is.

In the 4th Step I found out the person I was and how much I was under the delusion that it was every body else's fault that my life was the way it was. When it came to the turn arounds, I saw the truth. But today I have the proper tools to work with to know what I should do.

And in the 5th Step I gained my freedom. Freedom from self and learned what it means to "Let Go and Let God." I let go of all that garbage that was keeping me from moving forward and gave it to God. And my sponsor told me that God now has it in the big dumster in the sky and will not give it back to me, no matter how much I may ask for it back.

So yes Laura, congratulations, you are on a road to happy destiny. Keep up the good work. It works if you work it.

God Bless

Harry

[lulu70]

Thanks for all the support, guys. I already feel a new freedom just from getting all that crap down on paper. I can't imagine how much better I might feel after telling it all to my sponsor and then turning it over to God.

You all are awesome!!