The Second Step to Recovery
Step Two of the 12 Steps is, “We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book explains how to begin. Simply ask yourself, “Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?” The key here is that if we find we don’t believe that there is a power greater than ourselves, then how could we possibly be powerless over our addictions? So we go back to Step 1, and if we still agree that our lives have become unmanageable, we are back at Step 2.
The Big Book also says “Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you.” Many people grew up being taught about religion or spirituality in a way that didn’t make sense to them, or just didn’t comfort them, so they decided to give up on the whole concept. But you don’t have to accept what has been told to you by anyone, you don’t even have to have a clear idea of what that concept is right now. At Step 2, you only have to be willing to accept that there is a higher power.
The Narcotics Anonymous Basic Text, explains, “One thing most of us lacked was a working relationship with a Higher Power. We begin to develop this relationship by simply admitting to the possibility of a Power greater than ourselves. Most of us have no trouble admitting that addiction had become a destructive force in our lives. Our best efforts resulted in ever greater destruction and despair. At some point we realized we needed the help of some Power greater than our addiction. Our understanding of a Higher Power is up to us. No one is going to decide for us. We can call it the group, the program, or we can call it God. The only suggested guidelines are that this Power be loving, caring and greater than ourselves.”
In Serenity, A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery it says, “The Step 2 phrase ‘came to believe’ suggests a process and a progression of faith that evolves over time. A portion of A.A.’s oral tradition defines this as a three-part unfolding: First, we came, that is, we showed up and stumbled in the door. Second, we came to, that is, we sobered up, came to our senses, and began to experience emotional sobriety. Third, we came to believe. We began our real recovery process and our spiritual growth.”
The Twelve Step Program plays a large part in the recovery process at Transitions Recovery.
