Having identified myself as an alcoholic, which was acknowledging the powerless state that I was in and the fact that my life had reached a total state of unmanageability, I was now faced with a task of finding POWER. As long as I deny powerlessness and unmanageability there is no need for Step2 and so I remain with the problem until it becomes terminal. ".........there are those who do not recover..."
"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." In order to understand Step2, I found that I needed to define for myself what this sanity meant and why I had to be restored. On page 84 of the book, a statement is made whereby the book says," And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone- even ALCOHOL. For by this time SANITY would have returned." Thats at the end of step10. I found that the goal was clearly defined. The fact that it said "would" meant that it was a natural product of something I could do and not entirely outside my capacity. There is no mention of being restored to sobriety, because I found that my insanity began when I was perfectly sober. The step also does not say that this power RESTORED us to sanity. It says.... could RESTORE...., which means that in the abscence of that power I go back to my former condition of insanity. The power has the capacity to restore. "that God could...." pg 60. The power is not defined in this step either, but I found that it had to fall into a reasonable parameter of understanding and not a childish notion, otherwise I fall into the category of those who do not recover. I found the AA book dealt with this power in masterly detail, and I studied that in order to get a fuller understanding. In this step2 my only job was to BELIEVE that this power could do it, based on the reasonable argument presented by the AA book. No sponsor can do this. It is neither simplistic or intellectual. I found it to be a willingness of the spirit in me. I found 2 schools of thought on this step, one who intellectualised it out of existence and the other who simplified it into nothingness.
MarcLacroix said
Aug 13, 2010
What began as a rinky-dink idea on a shoestring budget has blossomed into something no less than phenomenal and the body of evidence as to its success cannot be denied. The program of recovery offered by Alcoholics Anonymous will probably work for any alcoholic who is willing to put forth an honest effort.
Having repeatedly failed to quit drinking on my own willpower I realized I was defeated and needed something completely different. I called my employers assistance hotline and was referred to a treatment facility. The four horsemen (terror, bewilderment, frustration and despair) had beaten me into a state of reasonableness. I had become ready and willing. While in treatment I listened and did the homework requested of me so recovery began on day one. I trust in the process and fourteen years later it still works for me.
"Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
In order to understand Step2, I found that I needed to define for myself what this sanity meant and why I had to be restored. On page 84 of the book, a statement is made whereby the book says," And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone- even ALCOHOL. For by this time SANITY would have returned." Thats at the end of step10. I found that the goal was clearly defined. The fact that it said "would" meant that it was a natural product of something I could do and not entirely outside my capacity. There is no mention of being restored to sobriety, because I found that my insanity began when I was perfectly sober. The step also does not say that this power RESTORED us to sanity. It says.... could RESTORE...., which means that in the abscence of that power I go back to my former condition of insanity. The power has the capacity to restore. "that God could...." pg 60. The power is not defined in this step either, but I found that it had to fall into a reasonable parameter of understanding and not a childish notion, otherwise I fall into the category of those who do not recover. I found the AA book dealt with this power in masterly detail, and I studied that in order to get a fuller understanding.
In this step2 my only job was to BELIEVE that this power could do it, based on the reasonable argument presented by the AA book. No sponsor can do this. It is neither simplistic or intellectual. I found it to be a willingness of the spirit in me.
I found 2 schools of thought on this step, one who intellectualised it out of existence and the other who simplified it into nothingness.
Having repeatedly failed to quit drinking on my own willpower I realized I was defeated and needed something completely different. I called my employers assistance hotline and was referred to a treatment facility. The four horsemen (terror, bewilderment, frustration and despair) had beaten me into a state of reasonableness. I had become ready and willing. While in treatment I listened and did the homework requested of me so recovery began on day one. I trust in the process and fourteen years later it still works for me.