The first six steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
Studies have shown consistently that those who attend Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in an attempt to conquer a problem with alcoholism are among the most likely to successfully beat the problem. In this article, we’ll examine some of the basic beliefs of the Alcoholics Anonymous program – the first six of the ‘twelve steps’ as they are commonly known. Many people live their lives based on the twelve step program and they find that it makes it all the easier to keep them from drinking.
The first step in AA is to admit that you are powerless over alcohol, and that your life has become unmanageable. Honesty is one of the first things to go when an individual becomes an alcoholic, and it consequently needs to become one of the first things to address when trying to get over the problem.
The second step is to work with your faith. This step involves making an admission that the only way that you will be able to beat your problem with alcoholism is to rely on a force greater than your own to help restore your life, be it God or any other spiritual force that may guide you.
The third step to Alcoholics Anonymous is based upon surrender. This step involves letting go of the life that you previously lived that contributed to your problem with alcoholism, and turning it over to a force greater than yourself.
The fourth step of AA can be difficult for many people to face up to. This step involves making a moral inventory of your life, not leaving out any aspect of yourself due to fear. Only by acknowledging the bad parts of your life will you be able to successfully work towards removing them. This is a true step of transformation as you begin to learn more about yourself, both good and bad.
The fifth step is said to be the most difficult by many individuals. This step elaborates on step four, and it involves admitting to your higher power, yourself, and the others in your life the exact nature of the problems that are present within your life. While it may not be that difficult to confront yourself or speaking to your higher power, many people find that it is a struggle to admit their problems to other individuals. It works as a type of baptism, in the way that you are facing up to the problems of your past and working towards creating a better future.
The sixth step in the program involves accepting yourself as you are. In this step, you need to ensure that you are ready to give up all of the faults that were holding you back in your ‘previous’ life. It can be difficult to do, considering that you have probably become quite comfortable in the way that you were formerly living your life. It is a key step, however, when it comes to advancing your life past the point that it is at.
Hopefully, this article helped to clear up some of the basics of the Alcoholics Anonymous program for you. Many find it to be useful, and you should seriously consider attending meetings if you have a problem with alcohol.
Recommended Reading
- The last six steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
- The Facts behind Alcoholics Anonymous – How It Works
- Do All Alcoholics Need a Treatment Center?
