What are the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous?
An in-depth interpretation of the 12 steps as they are explained in the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were originally outlined in “The Big Book”, as many call it. Now, these steps can be found in several different publications. They got their beginning in 1935. Derived from the six tenets of The Oxford Group, the founders of AA built out a 12-step process that they believed to be a solution for those suffering from alcoholism. In this post, we will explore each step in detail. Additionally, it is important to note that these steps have been credited with delivering sobriety to individuals with all sorts of substance use disorders.
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
The First Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Commonly said, admitting that you have a problem is the first step. In the second paragraph of the third chapter, the book Alcoholics Anonymous (the big book) states “We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery. The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.” The way that an individual comes to this realization can vary. Oftentimes, an individual in A.A will be working with a sponsor. This step asks an alcoholic to remove denial – a difficult thing to do. More often than not, an alcoholics loved ones and support system realize that a persons life has become unmanageable and that they have lost control over alcohol before the alcoholic does. Admitting powerless over alcohol allows an individual to move forward with the step process and begin that path to recovery.
The Second Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous does not hide from this fact – the 12 steps are a spiritual program. “God” is mentioned directly in four of the twelve steps, and well over 100 times throughout the big book. Unsurprisingly, an agnostic or an atheist may have a problem with that notion. Luckily, there are chapters dedicated specifically to that person.
For now, all that is required is a simple understanding – a power greater than myself is necessary. Out of order, the twelve steps can be daunting. Fortunately, they are meant to be taken in order. If you are faced with the second step, then you should have just taken your first. In that light, you just admitted powerlessness over alcohol. In some aspects, admitting that a power greater than yourself has already been admitted.
In the chapter titled “We Agnostics”, the big book states “Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this power? gb
The Third Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Made a decision to turn out will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
There is no hiding from it now – the 12 steps are going to talk about God. Fortunately, they added the caveat of it being “God as we understood Him.” The 12 steps proudly boast of being a spiritual solution. However, they do not claim to be a religious solution. Nevertheless, it is time to cross that bridge at this point of the step process. In practicality, the process of taking this step will look like the recital of “The Third Step Prayer”. On page 63, that prayer is laid out:
“God, I offer myself to Thee – the build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of Life.”
Internally, this can be difficult. The chapter “How It Works” acknowledges these difficulties. When laying out the step process, it reads “Many of us exclaimed, “What an order! I can’t go through with it.” Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.” Additionally, it states “Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.
Being convinced, we were at Step Three…”
The Third Step in Alcoholics Anonymous can be a tough one. However, the guidance from a sponsor and support group can make the leap much easier to make.
The Fourth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Now, it is time to get out the notebook and pen. However, some people choose to do this step with the aid of worksheets. Nevertheless, there is work to be done. After completion of Step Three, the Big Book states “Next we launch out on a vigorous course of action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning.”
Comparing this personal inventory to that of a business, the book states “A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke.” This personal inventory sets forth to tackle resentments, fears and misconduct. “Resentment is the “number one” offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.” This step entails writing out a list of resentments, and exploring why you were angry. Also, uncovering what aspect of your life it impacted. “We asked ourselves why we were angry. In most cases it was found our self-esteem, our pocketbooks, our ambitions, our personal relationships (including sex) were hurt or threatened.” In this step, you will look who who you are resentful at, the cause of the resentment and what aspect of your life it affects. Additionally, you will take a look at your own actions. “Referring to our list again. Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where has we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking and frightened?”
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The Fifth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Chapter 6, Into Action, opens with “Having made our personal inventory, what shall we do about it?”.
Having compiled and completed a fourth step, the Big Book states that it is time to “cast out” the identified “weak items in our personal inventory”. The Big Book acknowledges that this may be difficult. The step-taker has identified these things to themselves, but the step process requires more. “We think we have done well enough in admitting these things to ourselves. There is doubt about that. In actual practice, we usually find a solitary self-appraisal insufficient. Many of us thought it necessary to go much further.”
At this point in the process, it is time to share that fourth step with another human being, and your higher power as you view them. This can look several different ways. One popular method involves the new step-taker to share their fourth step with another person. Often, this person is the one who has been guiding you through the step process, and has done them themselves.
The Sixth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
The sixth step is one of willingness. At this point, you have identified some imperfections in your character. Additionally, you have now shared those defects with another human being. Now, it is time to ask yourself if you are willing to let go of those characteristics. Also, are you willing to allow your higher power to help remove them. Oftentimes, this contemplation is done through an hour-long session of meditation or quiet.
“Returning home we find a place where we can be quiet for an hour, carefully reviewing what we have done. We thank God from the bottom of our heart that we know Him better. Taking this book down from our shelf we turn to the page which contains the twelve steps. Carefully reading the first five proposals we ask if we have omitted anything, for we are building an arch through which we shall walk a free man at last. Is our work solid so far?…”
Your active participation in treatment is crucial, and ultimately, the decision is yours. Yet, it’s highly advised to consider the recommendations of a licensed professional.
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The Seventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
The seventh step is simple. Assuming the completion of the sixth step, this one comes fairly naturally. It is time to ask your higher power to remove those “defects of character” that we identified in the writing of our fourth step. On page 76 of the Big Book, it says:
“When ready, we say something like this: “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do you bidding. Amen.” We have then completed Step Seven.”
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The Eigth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
At this point, you are still working out of the chapter “Into Action”. Quickly, the Big Book states that the actions must continue.
“Now we need more action, without which we find that “Faith without works is dead.” Let’s look at Steps Eight and Nine.”
Referencing the list made during your fourth step, you begin to make a list of all people that you had harmed. Next, and perhaps the most difficult part, you are asked to become willing to make amends to them all. Whether or not you have to make amends to them all is briefly addressed in Step Nine. For now, you are asked to find the willingness to make right all of your previous wrongdoings. Addressing the difficulties of doing this, the Big Book continues on to say “If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.”
The Ninth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
You have made your list of people to whom you feel that you owe amends. As with the other steps, it is highly recommended that this is all being done with the help of a sponsor, coach or step practitioner. Importantly, note that these amends should only be made if it does not cause harm.
Commonly, these amends go much differently that originally expected. The Big Book states “In nine cases out of ten the unexpected happens. Sometimes the man we are calling upon admits his own fault, so feuds of years’ standing melt away in an hour. Rarely do we fail to make satisfactory progress.”
The process of making amends may look like simply telling someone “I have wronged you in the past by doing (whatever the wrongdoing is). I am here to see if there is anything that I can do to right that wrong”. In other cases, an apology might be in order. There are several ways to go through with making an amends.
The Tenth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
This step, along with the following two, are commonly started simultaneously with step nine. Unlike step nine, the 10th, 11th and 12th step are never “completed”. Instead, this step and the following two are to be continued forever. Occasionally, these final three steps are referred to as “the maintenance steps” or “the growth steps”.
In discussing the 10th step, the Big Book reads: “This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime”
By now, you have already completed your inventory through steps four through seven. Also, you have at least began the process of making your amends. In regards to you past and yourself, you have done A LOT of cleaning. In a way, the 10th step is the process of keeping it clean. The Big Book states: “Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear.” Commonly, this is done by utilizing the tools learned in steps four through seven.
The Eleventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
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 eleventh step suggests the continuation of prayer and meditation. This can look drastically different from person to person. Many who enter this process are new to these ideas. The Big Book lays out some guidance when it states:
“When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life? But we must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others. After making our review we ask God’s forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken.”
Again, this can look differently for everyone. The Big Book does not delve into many specifics when it comes to spiritual suggestions. Like other steps, the guidance of an experienced sponsor is extremely helpful.
The Twelfth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Here we are, the end (sort of). Similar to steps 10 and 11, the 12th step is to be continued forever. Wrapping up the 11th step, the Big Book says: “But this is not all. There is action and more action. “Faith without works is dead.” The next chapter is entirely devoted to Step Twelve.”
The chapter that the quote is referencing is titled “Working With Others” and spans across pages 89-103. The message of twelfth step is simple; help other alcoholics as you have been helped. This is stated at the beginning of the chapter:
“Practical Experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can.”
Many consider this the crux of A.A. – one alcoholic helping another.
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