1: Acceptance: we admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable
The first step encourages you to move out of denial and acknowledge that, while you may have a problem, it is beyond your control. The very nature of addiction renders you powerless, but by taking the first step and admitting this, you can take your power back.
2: Trust: came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
While some may relate a ‘higher power’ to a religious God, it can be anything that resonates with you personally. This could be a friend, a family member or anything else that may guide you in the right direction. This higher power gives you hope that recovery is possible.
3: Liberation: made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
The first two steps serve as a means to contemplate, but the third requires action. You will learn how to tune in to your chosen higher power and the way it wants you to live, directing you to stop acting on your compulsions.
4: Understanding: made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Step four pushes you to reflect on yourself and your past behaviours. You will examine your thoughts and assess the morality of your actions. While this may be uncomfortable, it is necessary to be honest with yourself and stay open-minded.
5: Acknowledgement: admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
Sharing your past wrongdoings with another can, in fact, be highly therapeutic and opens up opportunities for deep connections. By communicating in this way, you begin to realise that no one is perfect. Everyone has regrets, but this is what makes us human.
6: Freedom: were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
As you tackle this step, you will aim to let go of thought and behaviour patterns that cause you harm. While it can be incredibly difficult to change ingrained attitudes, the goal here is progress, not perfection.
7: Growth: humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
It is important to realise that you are not responsible for your addiction, but you can be responsible for your recovery. Step seven asks you to practise humility as you continue through recovery.
8: Reflection: made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all
Making amends and repairing the damage caused by your addiction is never easy, but it is important nonetheless. This step encourages you to embrace the idea of making amends.
9: Forgiveness: made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others
Step nine moves you into action, asking you to put right the damage done. In doing so, you give yourself and others the ability to let go of past hurt and forgive. This step is highly personal, however, and should only be carried out knowing it will not cause more pain in another’s life.
10: Continuity: continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
Step ten reminds you to constantly assess your thoughts and behaviour, be honest with yourself and look out for triggers. Doing this allows for great personal growth and keeps you on track.
11: Connection: sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out
This step refers to connecting with your chosen higher power and contemplating in order to receive insight. For example, you may privately write to your chosen higher power and quietly reflect on how it would guide you.
12: Helping others: having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and practise these principles in all our affairs
The final and twelfth step encourages you to help others, sharing the lessons you have learned through your recovery and supporting them as they make the same journey. Not only does this help you to stay on track, but it also helps you to foster meaningful connections while sharing important lessons.
