Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step Program

The 12 Steps of AA

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

• Recognize the problem and accept that you need help

Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

• Open to the idea of a higher power and its role in recovery

Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

• Commit to surrendering control and trusting in a higher power

Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

• Take an honest look at yourself, your actions, and your motivations

Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

• Confess your mistakes and flaws to yourself, a higher power, and someone else

Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

• Prepare to let go of negative traits and habits

Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

• Humble yourself and ask for help in overcoming flaws

Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them.

• Identify those harmed by your actions and prepare to make things right

Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

• Take action to repair relationships and make amends

Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

• Ongoing self-reflection and prompt admission of mistakes

Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

• Use prayer and meditation to connect with a higher power and seek guidance

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

• Share your experience with others and apply the principles in all areas of life

The 12 Steps of AA

• Recognize the problem and accept that you need help, acknowledging powerlessness over alcohol and its negative impact on life.

Trust and Surrender

• Be open to the idea of a higher power and its role in recovery, believing it can restore sanity.
• Commit to surrendering control and trusting in a higher power, turning will and life over to its care.

Self-Reflection

• Take an honest look at yourself, your actions, and your motivations, making a searching and fearless moral inventory.
• Confess your mistakes and flaws to yourself, a higher power, and someone else, admitting the exact nature of your wrongs.

Letting Go and Making Amends

• Prepare to let go of negative traits and habits, becoming ready to have them removed.
• Humble yourself and ask for help in overcoming flaws, seeking their removal.
• Identify those harmed by your actions and prepare to make things right, making a list of all persons harmed.
• Take action to repair relationships and make amends, making direct amends whenever possible.

Ongoing Recovery

• Engage in ongoing self-reflection and promptly admit mistakes, continuing to take personal inventory.
• Use prayer and meditation to connect with a higher power, seeking guidance and knowledge of its will for you.

Sharing and Applying

• Share your experience with others, carrying the message to alcoholics, and practice these principles in all areas of life, having had a spiritual awakening.