step_2_questions/suggestions_please - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Kjell · 01-11-2010, 06:00 AM

I'm working on step 2.

I'm doing 90 in 90. I pray every morning and most nights on my knees.
I call my sponsor daily and meet with him once a week. He reads the
big book to me and we are about to start on chapter 4 "We Agnostics".
I struggle with not being honest with myself and with others. I also
struggle with fear, resentments, ungratefulness, and selfishness (to
name a few).

I believe I have honestly worked and accepted step 1. I admit and
accept I'm powerless over alcohol. My past decisions show as much and
my "relapses" since I started recovery in AA also prove this to be
true. I have a desire to stop drinking and I'm willing to go to any
lengths.

(I promise there is a question forthcoming, please keep reading

)

Is my life unmanageable? Yes, it was while I was drinking/drugging
(though I kept it together for a very long time). My life has been
and it sure as heck is now that I've stopped. I feel insane at times
without my crutch. ...and it's obviously been unmanageable these last
two years. I went over some sort of line in Feb 08 (lost my girl, my
job, had to move, and now two duis and two totalled cars and somewhere
in there the blackouts started...).

Ok, now on to Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than
ourselves could restore us to sanity.

(the question is almost here...please keep reading)

I realize these steps are in order for a reason. So, now that I've
admitted I'm powerless and my life is unmanageable, it's time to
believe that a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity. Is
there anything more to this than "coming to believe that my God, my
higher power, can restore me to sanity"?

Any actions here? Any advice? Much appreciated.

Thank you and thank God for AA, sponsorship, and SR.

freya · 01-11-2010, 06:19 AM

Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

For me, there has been/continues to be both as "no" and a "yes" answer to your question.

The "No": all this step is about is your being willing to believe -- or, in some cases, just to be willing to suspend disbelief and give it a try -- is the short-term, get-on-with-the-Step-work answer. And this answer is valid because, what I find with the Steps is that it is really only in working the remaining Steps that I truly even begin to find out what any previous Step is about an am empowered to work it more fully.

The "Yes": "There's a lot more" is the long-term answer pretty much for the reasons just mentioned. Because the more I work the Steps and the longer I work and study the Steps and the more deeply I enter the life of Step work, the more I realize how much I don't know, how powerless I am, and how little I have any control over. And the more I'm forced to come to terms with that fact that that's actually a good thing, because it's the thing that continuously forces me to turn more and more to HP/God/whatever you want to cal IT.

So, anyways, if you're at Step 2 and you already know that you have a HP Who is there who help you and Who wants you to live, happy, joyous and free, then you are a lot further along than many people (including myself) were at that point. So, now, by continuing forward, you are going to learn how best to open yourself to and avail yourself of that help.

freya

Mark75 · 01-11-2010, 06:24 AM

I don't think it's an action step, so much.... Do you believe that He can? If yes... then, on to step three, because, in my experience, that is how He does it... In other words, I need to let go and let Him. Turn it over... ya know?

Mark

Kjell · 01-11-2010, 12:14 PM

Thanks.

It seems to me that once I accept this, that "a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity", then that's about all I can do for this step. Just accept and believe.

I'm sure there is more to it, as Freya says, to live it and I look forward to doing just that.

jaitch · 01-11-2010, 12:22 PM

Thanks K, I think one can go too deeply into the steps, trying to find something extra perhaps. On the face of it step 2 seems quite basic to me. I just downloaded an aa talk on step 2 it lasts for over an hour I havent listened yet, but my first thought was , thats a long time to be talking about A step.

sugErspun · 01-11-2010, 01:37 PM

You will know if your step 2 is complete when you do step 3, which you will know you did because you will be writing inventory and sharing it with another. Before you know it, you will be going to people and making ammends for the harm you caused them.

Do you have a sense of "choosing" step 2?
Do you believe that it is possible for you to recover from alcoholism?

The book mentions a flimsy reed.....

Kjell · 01-11-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugErspun

You will know if your step 2 is complete when you do step 3, which you will know you did because you will be writing inventory and sharing it with another. Before you know it, you will be going to people and making ammends for the harm you caused them.

Do you have a sense of "choosing" step 2?
Do you believe that it is possible for you to recover from alcoholism?

The book mentions a flimsy reed.....

So I'll know I've done the step before once I'm on the step after. Interesting...never thought of it like that in the short time that I have been thinking about it.

Yes, I do have a sense of "choosing" step 2. I'm coming to believe, I'm making a decision to turn it over to my HP, who I call God.

...and YES I do believe that it's possible for me to recover from alcholism. Whatever recover means, but I absolutly do believe I can and will recover.

That really made me think - thank you.

timbo555 · 02-01-2010, 06:08 PM

A willingness to believe is all that's required. My knowledge of who God is or even whether he exists on not is immaterial If I am insane and I need to be restored to sanity. This is a way to a sane life. God will always be there, He continues to reveal himself day by day. Faith is a verb, Do the work and Go shows up.

Timbo555

Spawn · 02-07-2010, 04:47 PM

For me the God pill was a big one.

My higher power at first was AA.

I think that what I got the most out of step 2 was "Hope"

Looking around the rooms at those who had been there and done that had something I wanted,........that smile and glow.
They were happy! and I wanted that!

So I kept coming back.

24hrsAday · 02-07-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spawn

For me the God pill was a big one.

My higher power at first was AA.

I think that what I got the most out of step 2 was "Hope"

Looking around the rooms at those who had been there and done that had something I wanted,........that smile and glow.
They were happy! and I wanted that!

So I kept coming back.

well said Spawn.. for me it's God as i Do Not understand him!

sampar · 09-03-2010, 03:11 PM

For me i understood that something had kept me alive through my wreckage of life, i was so desperate to get sober i would have believed in anything. I was blessed that my sponsor never confussed spirituality with religion!!! I was told if i had issues getting or finding a higher power to fake it till i make it! & it worked!!!
I had made such a mess of my life i thought well this higher power cant do me any worse, i also did the suggested things, i asked for help every morning "just keep me away for a drink just for today" & "let ure will be my will". & i am Grateful evry night no matter what type of day i've had! For me i dont question those who have gone before me if they are alcoholics of my type that i can identify with i will do all suggested things & up to today it has worked for me

bigchief · 10-24-2010, 01:10 PM

step1, this is a problem statement "im powerless over Alcohol" i have no effective control, its a 2 fold problem of mind and body, the mental obsession convinces me its ok to drink (insanity) and once inside me the "phisical allergy" or the phenomenon of craving (which normal folk dont get) wants more and more which all ends up in a spree.......this occurs pretty much every time i drink which is obvious "im powerless over Alcohol" the answer is not to drink?

How do we do this........is to find the POWER to overrun powerlessness......so step2 is "come to believe in a POWER greater than us could restore us to sanity"
as said step2 is a WILLING step, be open minded enough to believe something will/has come into your life if you let it.

you need to talk to your sponsor on how your feeling bud, the steps are laid out to work us toward a spiritual awakening/new attitude, the hard work starts on step4, this is where the ACTION of change begins, the first 3 are identifying the problem, showing a power can help, make a DECISION to either go back drinking or ROLL your sleeves up and GET ON WITH THE PROGRAM......Keith

so step1 is a problem statement=powerless
step2 is to find that POWER

01-11-2010, 06:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kjell i've done my almost Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,919 Blog Entries: 1	step_2_questions/suggestions_please I'm working on step 2. I'm doing 90 in 90. I pray every morning and most nights on my knees. I call my sponsor daily and meet with him once a week. He reads the big book to me and we are about to start on chapter 4 "We Agnostics". I struggle with not being honest with myself and with others. I also struggle with fear, resentments, ungratefulness, and selfishness (to name a few). I believe I have honestly worked and accepted step 1. I admit and accept I'm powerless over alcohol. My past decisions show as much and my "relapses" since I started recovery in AA also prove this to be true. I have a desire to stop drinking and I'm willing to go to any lengths. (I promise there is a question forthcoming, please keep reading ) Is my life unmanageable? Yes, it was while I was drinking/drugging (though I kept it together for a very long time). My life has been and it sure as heck is now that I've stopped. I feel insane at times without my crutch. ...and it's obviously been unmanageable these last two years. I went over some sort of line in Feb 08 (lost my girl, my job, had to move, and now two duis and two totalled cars and somewhere in there the blackouts started...). Ok, now on to Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. (the question is almost here...please keep reading) I realize these steps are in order for a reason. So, now that I've admitted I'm powerless and my life is unmanageable, it's time to believe that a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity. Is there anything more to this than "coming to believe that my God, my higher power, can restore me to sanity"? Any actions here? Any advice? Much appreciated. Thank you and thank God for AA, sponsorship, and SR. __________________ B/c alcohol did for me what I could not do for myself.

01-11-2010, 06:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
freya Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,597	Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. For me, there has been/continues to be both as "no" and a "yes" answer to your question. The "No": all this step is about is your being willing to believe -- or, in some cases, just to be willing to suspend disbelief and give it a try -- is the short-term, get-on-with-the-Step-work answer. And this answer is valid because, what I find with the Steps is that it is really only in working the remaining Steps that I truly even begin to find out what any previous Step is about an am empowered to work it more fully. The "Yes": "There's a lot more" is the long-term answer pretty much for the reasons just mentioned. Because the more I work the Steps and the longer I work and study the Steps and the more deeply I enter the life of Step work, the more I realize how much I don't know, how powerless I am, and how little I have any control over. And the more I'm forced to come to terms with that fact that that's actually a good thing, because it's the thing that continuously forces me to turn more and more to HP/God/whatever you want to cal IT. So, anyways, if you're at Step 2 and you already know that you have a HP Who is there who help you and Who wants you to live, happy, joyous and free, then you are a lot further along than many people (including myself) were at that point. So, now, by continuing forward, you are going to learn how best to open yourself to and avail yourself of that help. freya __________________ *Working the Steps isn't about me acquiring power; working the Steps is about removing the things that block me from being a channel for God's Power.*

01-11-2010, 12:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kjell i've done my almost Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,919 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks. It seems to me that once I accept this, that "a power greater than myself can restore me to sanity", then that's about all I can do for this step. Just accept and believe. I'm sure there is more to it, as Freya says, to live it and I look forward to doing just that. __________________ B/c alcohol did for me what I could not do for myself.

01-11-2010, 01:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
sugErspun Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,697	You will know if your step 2 is complete when you do step 3, which you will know you did because you will be writing inventory and sharing it with another. Before you know it, you will be going to people and making ammends for the harm you caused them. Do you have a sense of "choosing" step 2? Do you believe that it is possible for you to recover from alcoholism? The book mentions a flimsy reed..... __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." - Soren Kierkegaard

02-01-2010, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
timbo555 Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: atlanta, ga Posts: 28	"Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater tha A willingness to believe is all that's required. My knowledge of who God is or even whether he exists on not is immaterial If I am insane and I need to be restored to sanity. This is a way to a sane life. God will always be there, He continues to reveal himself day by day. Faith is a verb, Do the work and Go shows up. Timbo555

01-11-2010, 06:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mark75 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6,823	I don't think it's an action step, so much.... Do you believe that He can? If yes... then, on to step three, because, in my experience, that is how He does it... In other words, I need to let go and let Him. Turn it over... ya know? Mark

01-11-2010, 12:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
jaitch Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 127	Thanks K, I think one can go too deeply into the steps, trying to find something extra perhaps. On the face of it step 2 seems quite basic to me. I just downloaded an aa talk on step 2 it lasts for over an hour I havent listened yet, but my first thought was , thats a long time to be talking about A step.

02-07-2010, 04:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Spawn Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 804	For me the God pill was a big one. My higher power at first was AA. I think that what I got the most out of step 2 was "Hope" Looking around the rooms at those who had been there and done that had something I wanted,........that smile and glow. They were happy! and I wanted that! So I kept coming back.

09-03-2010, 03:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
sampar Right Where I am Suppose to be Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ireland Posts: 384	For me i understood that something had kept me alive through my wreckage of life, i was so desperate to get sober i would have believed in anything. I was blessed that my sponsor never confussed spirituality with religion!!! I was told if i had issues getting or finding a higher power to fake it till i make it! & it worked!!! I had made such a mess of my life i thought well this higher power cant do me any worse, i also did the suggested things, i asked for help every morning "just keep me away for a drink just for today" & "let ure will be my will". & i am Grateful evry night no matter what type of day i've had! For me i dont question those who have gone before me if they are alcoholics of my type that i can identify with i will do all suggested things & up to today it has worked for me __________________ if your standing with one leg in yesterday & one leg in tomorrow , you're peeing on today :p

10-24-2010, 01:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
bigchief Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: london Posts: 24	step1, this is a problem statement "im powerless over Alcohol" i have no effective control, its a 2 fold problem of mind and body, the mental obsession convinces me its ok to drink (insanity) and once inside me the "phisical allergy" or the phenomenon of craving (which normal folk dont get) wants more and more which all ends up in a spree.......this occurs pretty much every time i drink which is obvious "im powerless over Alcohol" the answer is not to drink? How do we do this........is to find the POWER to overrun powerlessness......so step2 is "come to believe in a POWER greater than us could restore us to sanity" as said step2 is a WILLING step, be open minded enough to believe something will/has come into your life if you let it. you need to talk to your sponsor on how your feeling bud, the steps are laid out to work us toward a spiritual awakening/new attitude, the hard work starts on step4, this is where the ACTION of change begins, the first 3 are identifying the problem, showing a power can help, make a DECISION to either go back drinking or ROLL your sleeves up and GET ON WITH THE PROGRAM......Keith so step1 is a problem statement=powerless step2 is to find that POWER

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