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I have been in a twelve-step program for about 4 months, but am just now trying to actively work the steps. Working Step One was really helpful to me, but I am so stuck on Step Two and the higher power crap. Any advice?

mertheist 4 Apr 29
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1

So here’s my thought. I am trying to use the word god as an acronym, so that when the word comes up in steps, serenity prayer, etc., this will be my focus. Here is what I have so far, would love suggestions:

G - gratitude
O - openness
D - dignity

mertheist Level 4 May 1, 2018

Some people like

Good.
Orderly
Direction

Or

Group
Of
Drunks

I like to use a more modern one:

H - Humanity's
E - Enlightened
R - Recovery

1

Definitely great websites. Love the alternative steps.......

0

Most of the 12 step program is garbage. Yes, there are some helpful things, but it is basically a liberal religion for people with mental issues.

SalC Level 6 Apr 30, 2018

I disagree. I think the concepts are sound, and having a support community is important. I suspect that each meeting may or may not focus on the god part.

@mertheist Just be careful, there's a lot of cult like dogmatic people in those . Don't forget to be a freethinker.?

@SalC oh, no worries. I’m old enough to stave off those folks who are trying to “save” me!

@mertheist 12 step programs are faith-based and not evidence based. As a whole it is not very effective, maybe 5-10 percent. And they teach you unproven cognitive and behavioral techniques. Read up on "the orange papers" failed AA treatment.

2

This step, along with my own arrogance, kept me away from my 12-step program for years. When I finally figured it out I realized how simple it could be. What finally worked for me was to accept that by myself I'm not that important or powerful. Only with others; friends, family, city, state, country, planet, even species do I really matter. Only then do I really have any kind of power. I am only one little life amongst billions that have existed on this tiny blue ball in one galaxy amongst trillions of other galaxies. This is my higher power: all these other groups are what gives me, as a relatively unimportant and impotent individual, power. Whenever god, higher power or spirituality is mentioned in the reading, in my mind, I'm thinking about all these other groups and things and my connection to them. This is also one of the ways I work on my humility. I hope I've helped. With you in the struggle.

kmdskit3 Level 8 Apr 29, 2018
2

Yeah, don't feel pressured! Some people need the higher power idea to let go of control. To realize that they don't have control over anything outside of their physical self. What they attribute to being the work of a higher power, I just know it to be the world itself. Things are gonna turn out the same whether they pray for it or not. You got this!

Also having a sponsor that understands you really helps.

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