Phase 1: Rightsizing Ourselves
Being honest about your problem and believing that help is possible.
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable."
Being honest about your drinking problem. Admitting you can't control alcohol and that it has made your life a mess.
"Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."
Having hope that something bigger than you can help you get better. This could be God, the AA group, or any higher power.
"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him."
Deciding to let your higher power help guide you instead of trying to control everything yourself.
Phase 2: Looking Inward
Looking honestly at yourself and sharing what you find with someone you trust.
"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."
Writing down an honest list of your character strengths and weaknesses, and how you've hurt others.
"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."
Sharing your inventory with someone you trust. This breaks the power of secrets and shame.
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
Becoming willing to change the parts of your personality that hurt you and others.
Phase 3: Cleaning Up Our Mess
Asking for help to change and making things right with people you've hurt.
"Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings."
Actually asking your higher power to help you change the things about yourself that need changing.
"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."
Writing down everyone you've hurt and becoming willing to try to make things right with them.
"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."
Actually talking to the people you've hurt, apologizing, and trying to make things right.
Phase 4: Living a New Life
Staying honest every day, growing spiritually, and helping others.
"Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
Checking yourself every day and quickly admitting when you make mistakes.
"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."
Talking to your higher power every day through prayer and quiet time, asking for guidance.
"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."
Sharing your experience with other people who have drinking problems and practicing these principles in everything you do.