How The 12 Steps Of Aa Work

The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are a set of principles and guidelines that have been designed to help individuals overcome alcohol addiction. Here is a brief overview of how the 12 steps of AA work:

Admitting powerlessness over alcohol: The first step is admitting that alcohol has become unmanageable and that you have lost control over your drinking.

Believing in a higher power: The second step involves recognizing the need for a higher power to help you overcome your addiction.

Surrendering to a higher power: The third step involves surrendering your will and your life to the care of a higher power.

Making a searching and fearless moral inventory: The fourth step involves taking an honest and thorough inventory of your character defects and past actions.

Admitting the nature of your wrongs: The fifth step involves admitting to a higher power, yourself, and another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

Being ready to have your defects removed: The sixth step involves being willing to have your character defects removed by a higher power.

Asking a higher power to remove your shortcomings: The seventh step involves asking a higher power to remove your character defects.

Making a list of people you have harmed: The eighth step involves making a list of the people you have harmed and being willing to make amends to them.

Making direct amends to those people: The ninth step involves making direct amends to the people you have harmed, except when doing so would cause harm.

Continuing to take personal inventory: The tenth step involves continuing to take personal inventory and admitting when you are wrong.

Seeking a closer relationship with a higher power: The eleventh step involves seeking a closer relationship with a higher power through prayer and meditation.

Helping others who struggle with alcohol addiction: The twelfth step involves helping others who struggle with alcohol addiction and continuing to practice the principles of AA in all areas of your life.

The 12 steps of AA are intended to be a lifelong practice and can be adapted to fit an individual’s beliefs and needs. The steps provide a framework for individuals to address the root causes of their addiction, make amends for past behavior, and develop a spiritual connection that can provide support in maintaining sobriety.