Step 2

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I hope everyone has now moved past Step 1. Let’s move on. I would like to share with you how I took Step 2:

● With the help of the recommendations from the AA book *A Life of Sobriety*, I did not drink the first glass.
● I attended many meetings, where I observed the faith reflected in my peers’ shares.
● I spoke a lot with older members, and my sponsor candidates about faith, spirituality, a Higher Power, and humility.
● I read a lot of AA literature, mainly:

A. *We Came to Believe* (the whole book is about Step 2)  
B. *Big Book*: 4. We, the Doubters (pages 42-54)  
C. *12 Steps Book* (Step 2 - pages 26-34)  

Finally:

2. I CAME TO BELIEVE THAT A POWER GREATER THAN MYSELF COULD RESTORE MY SANITY.

As part of this:

1. I recognized that there are other forces in the world besides myself.
2. I realized that there are powers greater than me.
3. I noticed that those who believe in a Higher Power have better mental health.
4. I became willing to imagine that there could be a power that restores my sanity.
5. I wanted to believe that there is a power that restores my sanity.
6. I began to practice this thought. I started to believe in it.

Step Guide:

Recommended (mandatory for addicts) readings are:

● *We Came to Believe* (the whole book is about Step 2)  
● *Big Book*: 4. We, the Doubters (pages 42-54)  
● *12 Steps Book* (Step 2 - pages 26-34)  

Additionally, I recommend:

● Avoid the use of mind-altering substances!  
● Attend many meetings, group gatherings, and observe the faith reflected in your peers’ shares!  
● Talk with older peers, your sponsor candidates about faith, spirituality, a Higher Power, and humility!  
● Read a lot of spiritual literature, especially self-help group books. I recommended a few at the end of Step 1 that I found particularly good.

2.1. I recognized that there are other forces in the world besides myself.

As I mentioned in my previous shares, in the second part of Step 1:

● It became clear to me that my life rarely unfolds as I planned.  
● I realized that I cannot control either my life or others.  
● I became aware that I cannot change the past.  
● I realized that the future will not be what I think it will be.  
● It became acceptable for me that the present moment is always what it is.  

So, I had to admit that I am powerless over things, people, and situations, and that I am not the controller of the world. I had to see that I am small, like ... (insert a thought that comes to mind!). I began to recognize that there are other forces at play in the world besides myself, such as:

● Natural forces (weather, geographical, physical, chemical, biological, genetic)  
● Human forces (the intentions, aspirations, behaviors, habits of others)  
● Social forces (political aspirations, social relationships, group activities)  
● Higher powers (unexplainable "coincidences," interesting coincidences, miracles)  
● Universal forces (Being, Karma, God, Ultimate Reality)  

I increasingly discovered that what happened in the world or within me due to forces beyond my control is not necessarily a bad thing. What others want, what others strive for, what happens around me, what is going on in the world is not necessarily bad. I began to exclude information from my view that suggested the world is bad. For instance, I stopped watching the news. This is enough to start with...

Step Guide for this section:

Write down (think about it) what:

● Natural forces (weather, geographical, chemical, biological, genetic, etc.) exist that you cannot influence?  
● What human forces (e.g., the intentions, aspirations, behaviors, habits of others, etc.) do you encounter that you cannot control?  
● What social forces (political aspirations, group activities, social relationships, living rules, etc.) exist that you cannot change?  
● What special forces ("coincidences," interesting coincidences, miracles) exist that you cannot influence, and often cannot even explain?  
● What is your opinion on universal forces, creation, life, karma, perhaps God?  

Write down any experiences you have that support:

● You are not the controller of the world.  
● What others want is not necessarily bad.  
● What is happening in the world is not necessarily bad.  

2.2. I realized that there are powers greater than myself.

As I began to recognize that there are other forces at play in the world besides myself (such as the aspirations of other people, group interests, social forces, natural forces), I increasingly became aware that these are usually stronger, more powerful forces than I am.

I had to admit to myself that there are such powers – greater than me – without which it would be difficult to explain most events, the happenings in the world, and even the existence and laws of the world (Universe). I heard others refer to these as a Higher Power. I liked this term because whenever I thought of "God," religious connotations came to mind, and being an atheist, I was wary of religions and the use of the word God.

I had previously realized that if I wanted to control my life alone, I would repeatedly hit a dead end and revert. Depression and anxiety would strike me, and eventually, I would drink or use again. (See Step 1!) I knew that balancing my (alcohol-soaked) self-centered thinking would not happen on its own. I needed help. I clung to the AA group. I attended meetings and listened to the shares. I observed what others said about greater powers, the Higher Power. I noticed that those who believe in a Higher Power feel better, even if it is not a Universal (God) Power but just a spiritual group – a force greater than me.

This is also enough to start with. In fact...

Step Guide for this section:

Write down (think about it) whether:

● Can you always fight against natural forces?  
● Can you always overcome others, or are there some who are stronger than you?  
● Are you making politics, or is politics influencing your life?  
● Are you having a greater impact on society, or is society having a greater impact on you?  
● Are you deciding about life, or is Life deciding for you?  
● Does your fate depend on your will, or does your fate move you?  
● How much does the Universe rely on your help, your corrections?  
● Can you know what God should do and why?  

Write down any experiences you have that support:

● There are indeed forces greater than us.  
● These forces are not always hostile.  
● These forces can also be supportive.  

2.3. I noticed that those who believe in a Higher Power have better mental health.

By attending meetings and listening to my peers’ shares, I noticed a very interesting correlation:

I. Those who talked about having come to believe in a Higher Power, or about their developing concept of God, generally also reported feeling gratitude at times, experiencing inner peace at times, beginning to understand what humility is, and feeling that they have embarked on a path of spiritual development.

II. Those who spoke about not drinking or using, because they took Step 1, but do not know or do not want to take Step 2, or emphasized that they do not do the steps, generally did not report any gratitude, inner peace, or spiritual development. They mostly talked about how they would like to indulge in something, but they do not, because they know where it would lead.

After a while, I began to think that it would be better to belong to the first group. "Hang with the winners" – I heard this at a meeting too.

Step Guide for this section:

Write down (think about it) what:

● What does it mean to have a Power Greater Than Ourselves?  
● What or who can we refer to as a Higher Power?  
● What does the term "gratitude" mean?  
● Can we be grateful to the Powers Greater Than Ourselves?  
● What is inner peace, and what connection might it have to mental health?  
● Can mental health be related to belief in a Power Greater Than Ourselves?  

Write down any experiences you have that support:

● Recovery / sobriety / spiritual development cannot happen without help.  
● Human help is often not enough.  
● Having faith in a Higher Power makes it easier to change self-centered thinking.  
● Those who have come to believe that there is a Higher Power feel better.  

2.4. I became willing to imagine that there could be a power that restores my sanity.

On page 50 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, there are two very serious thoughts:

1. Paragraph: "When we saw that others solved their problems simply by entrusting themselves to a Higher Power, we had to give up our doubts about God. Our ideas did not work out. But the concept of God did."
   
4. Paragraph: "During our existence as alcoholics, we inevitably came to a decisive moment when we had to face the dilemma of God's existence, humbling ourselves to the ground but without fear. Either God exists, or He does not. What shall we choose?"

And finally, the essence of the entire 12-step program, which I have heard at almost every meeting (from page 57 of the book): "The essence is that we are willing to grow spiritually."

After all, I have become willing to think that there could be a Higher Power that helps me restore my spiritual health and the integrity of my mind. It assists in my spiritual development. Why not?

Guide for the step section:

Write down (reflect on) whether:

- Are there those who have been helped to recover by a Higher Power?
- Does it require special abilities for someone to come to faith?
- Is reaching faith a matter of privilege, or can anyone partake in it?
- Is your willingness (to believe in a Higher Power) solely up to you?
- Does cultivating your willingness require special circumstances?
- Can the decision about your willingness be made at any time?

Write down any experiences that support the idea that:

- Spiritual development solely depends on our own willingness.
- The concept of God can be valid in the realm of spiritual development.

2.5. I wanted to think that there exists a power that restores my mind's integrity.

I read this on page 48, paragraph 2 of the Big Book:

"There are thousands of truly worldly-minded men and women here. They state unequivocally that since they have come to believe in a Power greater than themselves, since their perception of Him has changed, and since they do certain simple things, revolutionary changes have occurred in their lives and thinking."

OK, I thought. Let it be so. I am willing to believe that if I come to a belief in a Power greater than myself, my life and thinking will change.

But how do I do this?

The Big Book provided the answer on page 45:

"We only had to ask ourselves a single short question: Do I believe or do I want to believe that there is a Power greater than myself? We emphasize: as soon as someone says they believe or is willing to believe, they are already well on their way. It has been repeatedly proven in our circles that a wonderfully strong spiritual structure can be built on this simple fact."

This is good news: I don’t have to believe right at the beginning. It’s enough to just want to believe. Well, I can truly risk that...

Guide for the step section:

Write down (reflect on) whether:

- Are you willing to grow spiritually?
- Do you sincerely want recovery?
- Do you want to embark on the path of spiritual development?
- Do you believe, or do you want to believe, that there is a Power greater than yourself?

Write down any experiences that support the idea that:

- When someone says "I can't," they are really saying "I don't want to."
- If you want to achieve something, sooner or later, you will be able to achieve it.
- If you want to believe in something, sooner or later, you will be able to believe in it.

2.6. I started practicing faith. I began to believe.

Based on my previous steps, I decided to want to believe in a Power greater than myself. In AA, they said that a helpful attitude is "act as if." If I pretend long enough that I believe, then in the end, I will believe. It’s just a matter of practice. I did the following:

I. I started noticing the Higher Power appearing in the world's affairs. I tried to stop complaining, feeling sorry, being outraged, and dramatizing. I tried to notice as much good (love, joy, peace) as possible in the events and happenings of the world. I began to practice my own little slogan: "It’s good here now!" No matter what happened around me, I tried to think: IT’S GOOD HERE NOW!

II. I started noticing the Higher Power appearing in my fellow human beings. I tried to stop judging, qualifying, and labeling. I tried to notice as much good (understanding, love, cheerfulness) as possible in people. I began to practice my own little slogan: "They are good!" because everyone is good. Whenever I met someone, I tried to think: THEY ARE GOOD!

III. I started noticing the Higher Power showing up in my own life. I tried to stop feeling guilt, self-pity, regret, and suffering. I tried to notice as much good (selflessness, love, joy, peace) in myself as possible. I began to practice my own little slogan: "I am good!" Whenever I felt uncertain, I tried to think: I AM GOOD!

IV. I started feeling gratitude for all the good that I owe to the Higher Power in the world, in my fellow humans, and in myself. I began to practice my gratitude prayer: Lord, I am grateful:

- that I am alive,
- that I don’t have to drink or use drugs,
- that I found the 12-step program,
- that I can grow spiritually.

And I practiced, and I practiced, and I programmed, and I practiced...

Guide for the step section:

Write down (reflect on) how significant practice is in:

- Letting go of old, bad habits and forming new ones?
- Abandoning old, bad behaviors and developing new ones?
- Letting go of old, negative thoughts and forming new ways of thinking?
- Overriding old misconceptions and recognizing the truth?

Write down any experiences that support the idea that:

- The "Act as if" principle works in everyday practice.
- That if you think about something often enough, it will appear in your life.
- That if you do something often enough, it will become a daily practice.

Start paying attention and practicing:

- As the Higher Power appears in the world's affairs: It’s good here now!
- As the Higher Power appears in your fellow humans: They are good!
- As the Higher Power appears in your life: I am good!

Start giving thanks:

- For being alive!
- For not having to use alcohol or other mind-altering substances!
- For finding the 12-step program!
- For being able to grow spiritually!

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2.7. Self-check questions – for Step 2

Before we move on to Step 3, do a little self-assessment. Answer the following questions to yourself:

1. Have you recognized that there are other forces at work in the world besides you?
2. Have you realized that there are powers greater than you?
3. Have you noticed that those who believe in a Higher Power have better spiritual health?
4. Are you willing to imagine that there could be a power that restores your mind's integrity?
5. Do you want to think that there is a power that restores your mind's integrity?
6. Have you started practicing this thought? Have you started believing in it?

Short explanations for the self-check questions of Step 2:

1. It is an undeniable fact that there are some other forces in the world.
2. The question is rather which force is NOT greater...
3. Attend meetings, and you will notice the correlation.
4. The key to liberation is willingness.
5. Spiritual intention is the basis for spiritual development.
6. Practice! Believe! Or at least want to believe in it!