Question
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: the high desert
Posts: 887
Take your time, and be patient. AA is not a religious group, and the concept of a higher power is a God of your own understanding. For some people, it takes a while to get there. For now, just go to meetings, read your book, listen to people, and find a sponsor. Be honest about where you are. Most people in your position will come to believe in a higher power eventually.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 155
Hi Naydeen, You're not alone with this issue. I was disheartened when I first saw that the steps contained the word God. When I read chapter 4 in the Big Book the first time I started to feel better about the whole higher power idea. My concept of one has changed since I began recovery. If you haven't a copy of the book here's a link to that chapter.....
Page 44
Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Page 44
Linked with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 5,068
Have you read the big book yet? You do not have to "find" a higher power to work the steps. The big book says to be willing to believe in a higher power, it doesn't say you have to know your higher power before working the steps. In reality the steps will help you to define your higher power as long as you stay sober and do the work.
One of the most profound things I ever heard in an AA meeting was a guy that said to take as much of yourself as you understand, and turn it over to as much of God as you understand. He went on to say that in a year, if you stay sober and work the steps, your understanding of yourself, your higher power and the AA program will evolve considerably. In my own experience, he was dead on.
One of the most profound things I ever heard in an AA meeting was a guy that said to take as much of yourself as you understand, and turn it over to as much of God as you understand. He went on to say that in a year, if you stay sober and work the steps, your understanding of yourself, your higher power and the AA program will evolve considerably. In my own experience, he was dead on.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 462
Hi
I'm new to sobriety and AA and at the moment, my higher power is the room of recovering alcholics who have much more sober time behind them/wisdom than me. My sponsor wants me to concentrate on my prayer life, I'm struggling with that at the moment but I said I will try.
After all, I gave drinking enough of my energy so why not sobriety?
I'm new to sobriety and AA and at the moment, my higher power is the room of recovering alcholics who have much more sober time behind them/wisdom than me. My sponsor wants me to concentrate on my prayer life, I'm struggling with that at the moment but I said I will try.
After all, I gave drinking enough of my energy so why not sobriety?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: « USA » Recovered with AVRT (Rational Recovery) ___________
Posts: 3,680
Originally Posted by naydeen40 
I finally got my but into some meetings the problem I am having is I am not religious and don't have a higher power. How did you find a higher power?
That said, you do not actually need to find a higher power in order to quit drinking or using drugs. Once you do quit, you will be able to reflect on such profound and personal matters with a clear mind. If you want to know how to quit without having to find a higher power first, feel free to contact me via Private Message.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,947
Willingness, really... seek and you will find. You don't need to be religious, in fact sometimes people have an easier time if they don't have too many preconceptions.
I cannot disagree completely with AVRT... a clear mind is certainly helpful... but the journey has to start somewhere!
I cannot disagree completely with AVRT... a clear mind is certainly helpful... but the journey has to start somewhere!
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