New and in need of advice
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 50
New and in need of advice
Hello,
I am new on this site..I started going to face to face meeting in my area. I kind of like it. I am trying to do what everyone tells me to do in the meetings....I got a sponsor and I started step 1 with her today.
My sponsor is a very spiritual woman....and I like it because she helps me with the Higher Power thing. I am having a hard time believing there is a Higher Power....probably my ego that is still too big hehe.
Did anyone face that problem ? Having a hard time believing in a Higher Power ? If so, how did you start believing in all this ?
I am new on this site..I started going to face to face meeting in my area. I kind of like it. I am trying to do what everyone tells me to do in the meetings....I got a sponsor and I started step 1 with her today.
My sponsor is a very spiritual woman....and I like it because she helps me with the Higher Power thing. I am having a hard time believing there is a Higher Power....probably my ego that is still too big hehe.
Did anyone face that problem ? Having a hard time believing in a Higher Power ? If so, how did you start believing in all this ?
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,614
Hi! Just make something up. It does not have to be a literal higher power as most of us are taught in the existence of a higher being.
I think of Dumbo's feather- did you see that old Disney cartoon?
Everyone knew that the feather had nothing to do with Dumbo's actual ability to fly.
But what it represented got him flying.
It was simply belief that something outside of himself could make him fly. In the end, it was him.
Just make up a something or someone for you and use it as your personal Higher Power or think of it as a charm- whatever works for you.
I think of Dumbo's feather- did you see that old Disney cartoon?
Everyone knew that the feather had nothing to do with Dumbo's actual ability to fly.
But what it represented got him flying.
It was simply belief that something outside of himself could make him fly. In the end, it was him.
Just make up a something or someone for you and use it as your personal Higher Power or think of it as a charm- whatever works for you.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: canada
Posts: 748
Hi newinrecovery - the last meeting I was at was about a Higher Power. One guy spoke up and said he couldn't get it until he decided to make the sun his Higher Power because he could see it and feel it. He hung onto that and worked the steps and over time had a spiritual awakening. I thought that was pretty cool.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 203
Try and agnostic AA meeting. Here is a link, click on your state at the bottom to see if there is a meeting near you.
http://www.agnosticaanyc.org/worldwide.html
http://www.agnosticaanyc.org/worldwide.html
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,512
Hi and Welcome,
I don't use AA, but it was essential to me to find a spiritual connection in order to start recovering. I was at a low point in my life and in fact I didn't see any point to life. I had to do some serious soul-searching to find the connection I needed.
I don't use AA, but it was essential to me to find a spiritual connection in order to start recovering. I was at a low point in my life and in fact I didn't see any point to life. I had to do some serious soul-searching to find the connection I needed.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 770
For a lot of members the connection to a higher power comes after a bit of step work and hearing other peoples stories and things like that. Also, there are a lot of atheists and agnostics who work the steps or are in the program. I beleive there is an 11th step book that includes a section of stories from atheists , I wish I could remember the name of it.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 6,902
So glad you found the fellowship and a sponsor. It was the best thing I ever did. EVER.
I'd focus on Step one while you're on it - there is NO mention of higher powers in that. I found the 12 and 12 really useful in learning and understanding about each step.
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_step1.pdf
When you've done and dusted Step 1 - THEN go on to Step 2.
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_step2.pdf
It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to learn everything and rush ahead, but the steps are in the order that they are for a reason. The first three steps aren't difficult, but they are the foundation and bedrock for all the other work you will do so it's important to do each of them thoroughly. If you're focussing on Step 2 while you're doing Step 1, then you mightn't give step 1 the attention it needs.
Illus....
Q1) 46 - 19 =
Q2) 16 x 5 =
Both those maths questions are simple and most people could work them out in their own way if they're not rushing. But if you are thinking about Q2 while you're doing Q1, you might get it right, but it'd be a lot less likely. Worse of all - if you're a good mathematician you might presume you got it right and not even bother going back to check your answer in your eagerness to complete Q3 - Q12.
There is also a 12-step board on here that is really helpful. It has a sub-forum for each step.
Alcoholism-12 Step Support - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
Step Study - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
There are also some great AA speaker tapes which I find really useful. You can easily search Youtube (I usually put in AA Speaker step X) to look for specific recordings.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=aa+step+1
There are also lots available to download free here (but I struggle a bit with the search facility with this as it's by person and place - still very handy though)
AA Speaker Tapes : Find Alcoholics Anonymous Speakers
Wishing you all the best for your recovery.
I'd focus on Step one while you're on it - there is NO mention of higher powers in that. I found the 12 and 12 really useful in learning and understanding about each step.
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_step1.pdf
When you've done and dusted Step 1 - THEN go on to Step 2.
http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/en_step2.pdf
It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to learn everything and rush ahead, but the steps are in the order that they are for a reason. The first three steps aren't difficult, but they are the foundation and bedrock for all the other work you will do so it's important to do each of them thoroughly. If you're focussing on Step 2 while you're doing Step 1, then you mightn't give step 1 the attention it needs.
Illus....
Q1) 46 - 19 =
Q2) 16 x 5 =
Both those maths questions are simple and most people could work them out in their own way if they're not rushing. But if you are thinking about Q2 while you're doing Q1, you might get it right, but it'd be a lot less likely. Worse of all - if you're a good mathematician you might presume you got it right and not even bother going back to check your answer in your eagerness to complete Q3 - Q12.
There is also a 12-step board on here that is really helpful. It has a sub-forum for each step.
Alcoholism-12 Step Support - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
Step Study - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
There are also some great AA speaker tapes which I find really useful. You can easily search Youtube (I usually put in AA Speaker step X) to look for specific recordings.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=aa+step+1
There are also lots available to download free here (but I struggle a bit with the search facility with this as it's by person and place - still very handy though)
AA Speaker Tapes : Find Alcoholics Anonymous Speakers
Wishing you all the best for your recovery.
Chances
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Gosford, NSW
Posts: 110
I an atheist but it wasn't an issue at all. It clearly states 'a god of you own understanding'. For me that is simple peer support - the group itself. You don't need to believe in anything more than you do so don't get caught up trying to find god or faith when all you are looking for is sobriety - through character improvement at AA with the 12 steps.
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,967
step 2 is a willingness
willingness to set aside your old beliefs
or
willingness to believe that a power greater than you might exist
or
willingness to stop insisting there is no god or higher power
Do you believe those steps have worked for others? Maybe make that decision in step 3, know you are cared for while you write the 4th step inventories and move forward.....
The action of working through those steps, specifically through step 7 for me, well, that is when step 2 came alive and I began to have a belief that there might just be some power greater than me out there....It's been working for me for a little over 4 years now.....
willingness to set aside your old beliefs
or
willingness to believe that a power greater than you might exist
or
willingness to stop insisting there is no god or higher power
Do you believe those steps have worked for others? Maybe make that decision in step 3, know you are cared for while you write the 4th step inventories and move forward.....
The action of working through those steps, specifically through step 7 for me, well, that is when step 2 came alive and I began to have a belief that there might just be some power greater than me out there....It's been working for me for a little over 4 years now.....
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
