Alcoholics Anonymous, popularly known as AA, is an international fellowship dedicated to helping people come out of their alcoholism. The fellowship is founded on the Christian philosophy, but the group, as such, is apolitical. AA is multi-racial and non-professional. This is a self-supportive group where people, who themselves were alcoholics once and are now sober, help others to become sober.
AA recognizes the fact that a person needs strong social support to kick off alcohol addiction. The book named “Alcoholics Anonymous,” released in 1939, is a popular book. It is, in fact, a best-seller in the world of alcoholism. This book is useful for people who are fighting alcoholism and for people who have alcoholic family members or friends.
The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are the founding principles of this group fellowship. The 12 traditions are related to these 12 steps. They were officially released in 1946 in the journal of AA named “AA Grapevine.” The International Convention of AA, which was held in 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio, officially endorsed these traditions as “cultural attitudes and principles” that would create a positive change in AA groups.
Following the 12 steps
Your 12-step journey begins with attending a AA meeting. It is good to choose a meeting designed for beginners. Such meetings introduce you to AA and tell you about its steps and traditions. You get a chance to interact with people who are going through the steps.
You must complete the 12 steps in order. However, there isn’t a timeline to complete them. Do so at your own decree. But you must understand each step well and follow it in your lifestyle. Only then can you say that you have done the step.
Take your time. If you wish to stay on one particular step for longer, please do. Many people find that they must pause between steps. That’s fine too. You can take a break and then go towards the next step.
Please do not hurry. You mustn’t follow the 12 steps of AA just for the sake of following and completing them. This is a life-changing activity. Do it for your own good.
Also, please remember – no competition exists in AA. So, if you find somebody, who had joined AA with you, reaching the 4th or 5th step already and you are still in the 2nd step, worry not. Focus on your goal of sobriety and yourselves.
The 12-step tradition of AA is not a one-time process. It is a lifelong process that brings sustained recovery and long-term sobriety. Soon, the steps become an integral part of your life. In fact, they become your second nature.
These steps aren’t something out of the world. They are very much for this world, meant to transform your lives if you follow them well.
So, if you are eager to banish alcohol addiction from your life, refer to the AA meeting directory and first find yourselves a meeting. Join it and familiarize yourselves with meeting etiquettes, rules, and how it goes about. Then, you may begin your 12 steps.
For more information, please visit www.aa-meetings.com.