12 Steps to Stand Out (2024)

FAQs

What are the 12 principles of recovery? ›

The 12 spiritual principles of recovery are as follows: acceptance, hope, faith, courage, honesty, patience, humility, willingness, brotherly love, integrity, self-discipline, and service. Below are the spiritual principles of recovery, listed in order with the corresponding step: Step 1: Acceptance.

The Steps are meant to be addressed in sequential order, but there's no one "right" way to approach them. Sometimes people need a break between Steps, sometimes people need to spend longer on one Step than another, some people never stop working the 12 Steps because they become part of life.

In the realm of physical recovery, the 4 R's framework provides a helpful guide for optimizing the recovery process: rehydrate, regain, rebuild, and refuel. These four steps are crucial for replenishing the body's resources and promoting efficient healing.

The basic premise of the 12-Step model is that people can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from the substances to which they are addicted. They can do this through meetings in which they share their experiences with one another and support each other in the ongoing effort of maintaining abstinence.

In the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in Alcoholics Anonymous, on page 149, Rule 62 is described as, “Don't take yourself too seriously.” This passage is more about clearing up any wrongdoings with humility by moving on and getting into the solution.

Factors Influencing the Duration of the 12-Step Journey

For most people, it takes about 90 days on average to complete the program. There is nothing wrong with taking longer than 90 days. Some have many kinks to work out, especially about making amends. Those have a longer list and have hurt others more deeply.

Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold. The help I have received I shall pass on & give to others, Both in & out of the Fellowship.

A 12-step program is a peer-based mutual help program for alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictive and dysfunctional behaviors. The steps are guiding principles that outline how to overcome addiction, avoid triggers and live a healthy, productive life.

Can you do 12 steps without God? ›

Spiritual, Not Religious

That's why many who attend the 12-step programs are atheists or agnostic. Belief in a traditional God is not at all necessary to benefit from the 12-step program.

Step 12: Service

Living with the principle of service means it's your responsibility to help others as you were helped when you first started to work the 12 steps.

By applying the biblical principles of conviction, conversion, surrender, confession, restitution, prayer, quiet time, witnessing, and helping one another, which are found within the Eight Principles and the Christ-centered 12 Steps, you will restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God.

Bill Wilson, a former member of Alcoholics Anonymous, created the 12 Steps in 1938. During his experience, he wrote down his ideas and tips regarding sobriety. After combining these tips with a few other teachings and Christian inspiration, Wilson put the 12 Steps into action.