NA - Step 2

Step Two  
“WE CAME TO BELIEVE THAT A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES COULD RESTORE US TO SANITY.”

The First Step strips us of our illusions about addiction; the Second Step gives us hope for recovery. It teaches us that everything we learned in the First Step about our addiction is not the end of the story. The pain and insanity we’ve lived with are unnecessary, the Second Step says. They can be alleviated, and as we work the Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, we will learn, over time, to live without them.

The Second Step fills the void we feel after completing the First Step. As we approach Step Two, we begin to consider the possibility that a Power greater than ourselves exists—one capable of healing our wounds, calming our confusion, and restoring our sanity.

As newcomers, many of us were troubled by the part of this step that implies we had been "insane." Moving from admitting powerlessness to accepting our "insanity" seemed like a big leap. However, after spending some time in the program, we began to understand what this Step truly means. We read the Basic Text and found the description of our insanity as: “repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” We could definitely relate to that! After all, how many times had we tried to get away with something we never had before, telling ourselves “this time will be different”? Now that’s insanity! After living by the principles of this Step for many years, we recognize how deep our insanity runs, and we often see that the Basic Text’s definition barely scratches the surface.

Some of us rejected this Step, thinking it required us to be religious. There is absolutely nothing in the Narcotics Anonymous program that requires its members to be religious. The idea that "any addict can join us… regardless of religion or lack thereof" is fiercely protected in our fellowship. Our members are complete in this regard, tolerating nothing that compromises an addict’s inalienable right to develop their own understanding of a Power greater than themselves. This is a spiritual program, not a religious one.

The beauty of the Second Step unfolds as we begin to think about what our Higher Power might be. We are encouraged to choose a Power that is loving, caring, and most importantly, capable of restoring our sanity. Step Two doesn’t say, "We came to believe in a Power greater than ourselves," but rather, "We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." The emphasis is not on who or what that Power is, but on what that Power can do for us. The group itself can certainly be considered a Power greater than ourselves. So too can the spiritual principles of the Twelve Steps. And of course, each member’s personal understanding of a Higher Power. As we stay clean and continue working this Step, we recognize that it doesn’t matter how long our addiction lasted or how far our insanity went. There is no limit to the ability of a Power greater than ourselves to restore us to sanity.



NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.1  
2.1. HOPE

The hope we receive from working Step Two replaces the despair we felt when we first came into the program. Each time we followed paths we believed would lead us out of addiction—medicine, religion, or psychiatry—we realized that they led us here; none of them were right for us. When we ran out of options and exhausted our resources, we wondered if we would ever find a solution to our dilemma—if any solution in the world existed that would work. In truth, we may have been a little skeptical when we first came to Narcotics Anonymous, wondering if this was just another method that wouldn’t work or wouldn’t work well enough to make a difference.

Yet something remarkable happened to us when we sat in our first few meetings. There were addicts there who used drugs just like we did, addicts who were now clean. We believed in them. We knew we could trust them. They knew the places we had been to in our addiction—not just the physical locations where we often used, but the places of fear and despair that our spirit visited each time. The recovering addicts we met in NA knew these places as well as we did, because they had been there too.

This is when we recognized that these members—addicts like us—were clean and had gained freedom, which many of us first experienced through a sense of hope. We were probably standing with a group of members after a meeting, listening to someone share a story that sounded just like ours. Most of us can remember this moment even years later—and this moment comes for all of us.

Our hope is continually renewed as we progress in recovery. Each time we learn something new about our disease, the pain of that realization is accompanied by a sense of hope. No matter how painful the process of breaking through our denial may be, something new replaces it within us. Even when we feel like we don’t believe in anything, we believe in the program. We believe that our sanity will be restored, even in the darkest times, even in the sickest parts of us.

Today, what do I have hope for?



NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.2  
2.2. INSANITY

If we have doubts about whether we need to renew our sober thinking in life, we will struggle with this Step. In such a case, reviewing our First Step will help. Now is the time to closely examine our insanity.  
Did I ever believe I could control my substance use? What were my experiences with this, and how successful were my efforts?  
What things have I done that I can barely believe today when I look back? Did I put myself in dangerous situations to get drugs? Did I behave in ways that I am ashamed of today? What were these situations like?  
Did I make crazy decisions as a result of my addiction? Did I quit jobs, break off friendships or other relationships, or give up on achieving other goals simply because they interfered with my substance use?  
Did I physically harm myself or someone else during my addiction?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.2.1  
2.2.1. OUR PROBLEMS

Insanity is the loss of our sense of reality and our reference points. We might think our individual problems are more important than others', while being completely unable to consider the needs of other people. Small problems turn into huge catastrophes. Our life loses its balance. A clear example of our insane thinking is the delusion that we can stay clean on our own or that our only problem was drug use, and now everything is fine just because we are clean. In NA, insanity is often described as the delusion that if we remove something from ourselves—drugs, control, sex, food, etc.—we can fix what is wrong inside: our feelings.  
How did I overreact or underreact to things? How has my life fallen out of balance?  
How does my insanity manifest, convincing me that things outside of me can make me whole and solve all my problems? Chasing drug use, obsessive gambling, eating, or sex? Or something else?  
Did my insanity lead me to believe that my only problem was my addiction, like substance use?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.2.2  
2.2.2. NEW INSANITY

If we have been clean for a while, we may see that an entirely new level of denial makes it harder for us to see the insanity in our lives. Just as we did in the early days of our recovery, we need to become aware of how our insanity manifests. Many of us have found that our insanity goes beyond the definition given in the Basic Text. We repeat the same mistakes over and over, even when we are fully aware of what the consequences will be. Perhaps we feel so much pain that we don’t care about the consequences, or we believe that if we act on a passion, somehow it will be worth the price.  
When have we acted on a passion, even knowing what the result would be? What did we feel and think beforehand? What drove us to do it anyway?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.3.1  

2.3. We Came to Believe  
2.3.1. GETTING BEYOND LIMITATIONS

The previous discussion (about our insanity) highlights many reasons why we may struggle with this Step. There may also be other reasons. It’s important to identify these and overcome the limitations that hold us back from beginning to believe.  
Do I have fears about faith? What are they?  
Are there other obstacles that make it difficult for me to come to believe? What are they?  
What does "We came to believe..." mean to me?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.3.2  
2.3.2. GROWING OUR FAITH

As addicts, we tend to want our desires fulfilled immediately. However, it’s important to remember that the Second Step is a process, not a single event. Most of us don’t wake up one day with the sudden knowledge that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity. We gradually come to believe in this. Still, it’s not enough to just sit back and wait for our faith to grow on its own—we can help this process.  
Have I ever believed in something without having tangible proof of its existence? What was that experience like?  
What experiences have I heard from other recovering addicts who shared their journey to faith with me?  
Have I tried any of these in my own life? What do I believe in?  
How has my faith grown during my recovery?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.3.3  
2.3.3. A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES

Each of us begins our recovery with a story full of life experiences. The events we’ve lived through greatly influence our understanding of a Power greater than ourselves. It’s not necessary for this Step to have a clear idea of the nature or identity of a Higher Power. This understanding will develop later. During the Second Step, we only need to reach the point where we believe that a Higher Power can help us. We’re not concerned with theological sophistication or doctrinal beliefs here—we simply want something that works.  
How powerful does a Power greater than ourselves need to be? The answer is simple. Our addiction, as a negative force, was undoubtedly more powerful than us. It led us down the path of insanity and caused us to act in ways we didn’t truly want. We need something that can combat this—a power at least as strong as our addiction.  
Do I have difficulty accepting that there is a Power greater than me, or perhaps multiple Powers?  
What things are more powerful than me?  
Can a Power greater than myself help me stay clean? How?  
Can a Power greater than myself help me in my recovery? How?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.3.4  
2.3.4. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HIGHER POWER

Some of us may have a clear idea of the nature of a Power greater than ourselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, the Second Step is where many of us may form our first practical ideas about a Higher Power, if we haven’t already. Many of us thought it would be better to first examine how a Power greater than ourselves can help us—before trying to define who or what it really is. Also, by understanding what this Power can do for us, we can learn more about it.  
We can develop a wide variety of concepts about a Power greater than ourselves. We might think of it as the power of spiritual principles or the strength of the N.A. community, a guide in the right direction, or anything else we can imagine, as long as it’s loving, caring, and greater than us.  
In fact, it’s not necessary to have a clear understanding of a Higher Power in order to use this Power to stay clean and move forward in our recovery.  
What evidence do I have that a Higher Power is working in my life?  
What characteristics does my Higher Power not have?  
What characteristics does my Higher Power have?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.4.1  
2.4. Restoring Our Sanity  
2.4.1. EXPERIENCING SANITY

The text "It Works: How and Why?" describes the term "recovery" as "a change to a point where our addiction and the accompanying insanity no longer control our lives."  

We see that just as our insanity led to a loss of our sense of reality and our frame of reference, we begin to experience sanity in our lives when we develop a perspective that allows us to make better decisions. We realize we have a choice in how we behave. We become mature and wise enough to pause and consider every aspect of a situation before we act.  

It’s clear that our lives are changing. Most of us find it easy to recognize the presence of sanity in our lives when we compare our substance use with our initial recovery, our initial recovery with our temporary clean time, or our temporary clean time with our long-term recovery. All of this is a process, and the need for restoring our sanity changes over time. When we are new to the program, restoring our sanity likely means not using any more; and when that happens, the part of our insanity that is directly and clearly tied to our use ceases. We no longer commit crimes to get drugs. We no longer put ourselves in humiliating situations that serve no purpose other than our substance use. At the beginning of our recovery, we may find it easy to believe in a Power greater than ourselves that helps us stay clean; however, we may not have yet considered what restoring our sanity means beyond just staying clean. As we move forward in our recovery, it’s important that our views on “sanity” evolve as well.  
What examples serve as models for me regarding sanity?  

What changes in my thinking and behavior are necessary for restoring my sanity?  
In what areas of my life do I currently need my sanity?  
What makes recovery a process?  
How does my work on the other Steps help restore my sanity?  
What aspects of my sanity have already been restored during my recovery?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.4.2  
2.4.2. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS  

Some of us may have unrealistic ideas about restoring our sanity. We might think we will never be angry again, or that once we start working on this Step, we will always behave perfectly and no longer have issues with our passions, emotional highs, or an unbalanced life. The previous description may seem extreme, but if we are disappointed in our individual recovery process or in the restoration of our sanity, we may recognize some of our misconceptions in this description. Most of us have found that we can best achieve inner peace by letting go of our unrealistic expectations about our recovery.  
What expectations do I have regarding the restoration of my sanity? Are they realistic or unrealistic?  
Are my realistic expectations for progress in my recovery being met or not? Do I understand that my recovery takes time and does not happen overnight?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.4.3  
2.4.3. EVIDENCE OF SANITY  

If we experience even once acting sanely in a situation we previously couldn’t handle successfully, we can have evidence of our sanity.  
Have I ever had such experiences during my recovery? What were they?

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.5.1  
2.5. Spiritual Principles  

In the Second Step, we focus on openness, willingness, faith, trust, and humility.  

2.5.1. OPENNESS  

The principle of openness found in the Second Step stems from the belief that we cannot recover on our own; we need help. The next step is to become open to believing that help is available to us. It doesn’t matter whether we know how a Power greater than ourselves can help; we believe it is possible.  
How am I harming my recovery by not being open?  
How does my openness manifest today?  
How has my life changed during my recovery? Do I believe that more change is possible?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.5.2  
2.5.2. WILLINGNESS  

Practicing the principle of willingness in the Second Step can start simply. At first, we may just attend meetings and listen to other recovering addicts share their experiences with the Second Step. We can then apply what we’ve heard in our own recovery. We ask a sponsor to guide us.  
What am I willing to do to restore my sanity?  
Is there something I am willing to do today that I wasn’t willing to do before? What is it?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.5.3  
2.5.3. FAITH  

We can’t just sit back and wait for faith to touch us while we work on the Second Step. We also need to take action. We suggest what has worked for many of us: to “act as if” we have faith. This doesn’t mean we should lie to ourselves, our sponsor, or anyone else about where we are with this Step. We don’t do this because it sounds good or makes us look better. “Acting as if” simply means living as if we believe that what we hope for will happen. In the Second Step, this means living as if we expect our sanity to be restored. This can manifest in many ways in our lives. Many of our peers suggest that we “act as if we believe” by regularly attending meetings and seeking guidance from our sponsor.  
What have I done that demonstrates my faith? How has my faith grown?  
Have I been able to make plans while believing that my addiction cannot get in the way?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.5.4  
2.5.4. TRUST

To trust in a Higher Power, we need to overcome our fears regarding the restoration of our sanity. Even if we have only been clean for a short time, it is likely that we have already experienced emotional pain during our recovery. We may fear that we will face even more pain. In some sense, we may be right: there will be more pain. However, none of it will be greater than what we can bear, and none of it needs to be endured alone. If we are able to place our trust in the recovery process and in a Power greater than ourselves, we can embark on a hopeful journey filled with challenges. We will know that at the end of the road awaits not superficial happiness, but a fundamental change that offers a much higher, spiritually-based way of life.  
What fears might be standing in the way of my optimism?  
What do I need to overcome these fears?  
What actions am I taking that reflect my trust in the recovery process and in a Power greater than myself?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.5.5  
2.5.5. HUMILITY  

The principle of humility comes from our acknowledgment that there is a Power greater than ourselves. For many of us, it can be a daunting struggle to refrain from relying on our own thinking and to start asking for help; however, when we do this, we have already begun to practice the principle of humility found in the Second Step.  
Did I ask for help from a Power greater than myself today? How?  
Did I seek help from my sponsor, attend meetings, and try to connect with other recovering addicts? What were the results of these actions?  

NA - Step 2 - Chapter 2.6  
2.6. MOVING FORWARD  

As we prepare to move toward the Third Step, we need to reflect on how far we have come in our work on the Second Step. By writing down our thoughts about each Step, we can become better prepared to move forward and embrace the spiritual principles.  
What can I do to reach faith?  
What am I doing to overcome my unrealistic expectations regarding the restoration of my sanity?  
What is my understanding of the Second Step?  

How have my prior knowledge and experiences influenced my work on the Second Step?  
As we progress toward the Third Step, hope emerges in our souls. Even if we are no longer new to recovery, we can still reaffirm our belief that recovery, progress, and change are not only possible but also inevitable if we are working on the Steps with all our might. We can see that there is a possibility to clearly recognize the particular insanity we were recently caught in as prisoners of our addiction. We are likely beginning to experience some form of freedom. We are starting to break free from the bondage of our insanity. We have come to know our insanity and have begun to trust that a Power greater than ourselves can save us from pursuing the same path. We are starting to let go of our illusions. We are no longer fighting to keep our addiction a secret or isolating ourselves to hide our insanity. We have seen that the program has worked for others, and we recognize that it is starting to work for us too. In our newly found faith, we reach a willingness to take action and work on the Third Step.