THE PRINCIPLES ARE THE STEPS

[Carol87]

THE PRINCIPLES ARE THE STEPS


1. HONESTY
2. HOPE
3. FAITH
4. COURAGE
5. INTEGRITY
6. WILLINGNESS
7. HUMILITY
8. BROTHERLY LOVE
9. JUSTICE
10. PERSEVERANCE
11. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
12. SERVICE

Variations here:

http://www.barefootsworld.net/aaprinciples.html

[Carol87]

Found in another group ... Disclaimer: I did a Google to find the source ...I don't know the basis or accuracy ...

Source: http://spiderangel.www.50megs.com/principlesofthetwelvesteps.html___________________ ______________________________

[b]Principles of the Twelve Steps

1. Honesty
2. Hope
3. Faith
4. Courage
5. Integrity
6. Willingness
7. Humility
8. Brotherly Love
9. Self Discipline
10. Perseverance
11. Ever Presence of God
12. Service to Fellowman,


Principles of the Twelve Traditions

1. Unity
2. Direction
3. Recovery
4. Understanding
5. Sharing
6. Simplicity
7. Independence
8. Selflessness
9. Service
10. Survival
11. Self Reliance
12. Humility


Principles of the Twelve Concepts

1. Responsibility
2. Reliance
3. Trust
4. Participation
5. Democracy
6. Accountability
7. Balance
8. Consistency
9. Vision
10. Clarity
11. Respect
12. Spirituality

[samf]

Thank you, Carol, for posting these.

I never know, either.

I like the idea of participation (#4, under concepts). I was always such a woose and thought my opinion didn't matter anyway that I never knew to participate and that I could let go of the results...kind of like "a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience" (hope I have that quote right...it is something like that...) and just be a part of.

Love,

Sam

[doyal]

Thank you for the info.

[samf]

Hey, Doyal!!!

Welcome!!!

Samf

[dancedivaonline]

There are many principles to each of the steps, not just one. It all depends on who is putting the list together. Just like there are more than just 12 promises in the BB, and a lot of musts, and...so much to find between those pages. Depending on the frame of mind when reading will depend on what you find. It's an ongoing adventure. Feel free to jump in any time. It gets 'deeper' the more you delve.

[saved1]

An old story has been told of individuals in the program asking an alcoholic who had a slip, "What Step were you working on at the time?" The individual who slipped was not working on any Step, and that is part of how they lost there sobriety. The message of the story is that when we are not busy being born spiritually, we are losing ground. It is essential to always be focusing our attention on one of the Steps. Each time we work a Step again, we are at a new place in life, and the Step will inspire something new in us just as it did the first time.

Although we may know the program well, keeping it as our center protects us from being reactive to the events and pressures in our lives. We are less likely to feel overwhelmed by situations or react with shame or anger. As long as we live, we are in need of being renewed.

Today, I will choose one of the Steps and think about its meaning for me.

[MajestyJo]

Have a friend in NA who has repeatedly asked me, "What Step are you working on Jo?" I answer him, "Some days, all 12!"

He stopped asking!

Very little is talked about the principles of the Steps. Everyone agrees that honesty is the principle of Step One. I am a firm believer that in order to take Step One, 100% you also need surrender and acceptance. The following is a post I made on the topic at another site in response to a Melody Beattie reading.

Go back to the Steps. Go back to the Step.

When we don't know what to do next, when we feel confused, upset, distraught, at the end of our rope, overwhelmed, full of self-will, rage, or despair, go back to the Steps.

No matter what situation we are facing, working a Step will help. Focus on one, trust your instincts, and work it.

What does it mean to work a Step? Think about it. Meditate on it. Instead of focusing on the confusion, the problems, or the situation causing our despair or rage, focus on the Step.

Think about how that Step might apply. Hold on to it. Hang on as tightly as we hang on to our confusion or the problem.

The Steps are a solution. They work. We can trust them to work.

We can trust where the Steps will lead us.

When we don't know what step to take next, take on of the Twelve.

Today I will concentrate on using the Twelve Steps to solve problems and keep me in balance and harmony. I will work a Step to the best of my ability. I will learn to trust the Steps, and rely on them instead of on my protective, codependent behaviors.

Melody Beattie - Language of Letting Go

Quote:
God would give me just enough light for the step I am on...that I would learn to walk by faith.




I read this quote on another site. I had never heard it put this way before. I found it to be very empowering. When I am stuck, I know I can surrender in the moment, accept what is in the moment, and ask for help and it will be given to me.

It is my personal belief that the Light comes in at the point of surrender. I can't, God can, and I have to ask for His help. I have to follow it up with action.

Surrender is a Principle of Step One for me. God brought me here, and gives me the tools to stay here, one day at a time.

[saved1]

Principles Before Personalities

AA is an exceedingly diverse and usually colorful collection of people with all kinds of personalities and problems in addition to that of alcoholism. Individual meetings also tend to acquire a special flavor and "personality" of their own. All in all, AA represents a vast cross-section of the general population. Along with the many good people who attend and who are sober are always some who are not so good and who may or may not be sober. An AA saying wryly but accurately notes that "If you like everyone you meet in AA, you haven't been to enough meetings."

Although the natural fear and anxiety of many newcomers usually serves to protect them from premature and unwise involvement with those who may not be good for them, occasionally the newcomer is so desperate for real human contact and even affection that he or she may be vulnerable to exploitation for money, sex or other favors by unscrupulous individuals. "Thirteenth Stepping" –there are actually only twelve steps in the Twelve Step program- is the common term for sexual exploitation of female newcomers by males in the program. The reasons to avoid premature emotional and physical intimacy in early recovery are obvious and really come down to just one principal concern: such involvements frequently become unmanageably complex or turn sour, and the risk of alcoholic relapse for the newcomer is extremely high. It is always best to keep one's life as simple and non-stressful as possible in the beginning of recovery.

Sometimes newcomers plunge right into the after-meeting socializing and personal relationships among members at a pace that is too fast for their own good. Non-program related issues and concerns may sometimes dominate these friendships and work to the detriment of the individual's recovery by blurring their focus on the AA program itself. Conflicts and complications in personal friendships with other AA members may even serve to disillusion the newcomer and undermine his trust in the program itself. It is therefore always wise to remember the advice, "Principles before personalities." Individual human beings are always fallible and hence apt to disappoint, but the principles of recovery and of right conduct remain and are untouched by individual failings

[saved1]

"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult--once we truly understand and accept it--then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."
— M. Scott Peck

[MajestyJo]

So many people can quote the Big Book chapter and verse, they know the words but are not always able to live them. One of my favorite lines is, "Take the words off the pages and apply them to your life." It is one thing to know them, it is another to live them.

Some people pick and choose the Steps they want. It amazes me the number of people who have stayed 'sober' and not done a 4th & 5th. Why do things the hard way? Things are so much better when we bring the secrets out of the closet, live in the light instead of keeping them in the darkness.

A member who became a priest in recovery says, "I don't want to know all the gory details. He said, "You stole, what difference does it make how many times you did it and the different things you stole. You are a thief! End of story! On to the next!"

This same man says, "It is a wonder God doesn't lean over the edge of heaven and tell us all to just shut up! We pray and pray and pray and we don't wait for the answers, we have not faith, we are not willing to listen for the answers. It is a wonder He doesn't get tired of our incessant chatter!"

One day at a time we do get better. Life doesn't get better, we do!