To be really honest, Step 3 AA first sounds rather daunting. Turning your life and will over to something more than yourself? Whoa! That is a significant advance. The truth is, nevertheless, one of the most freeing activities you will engage in during recovery.
In Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous, we deliberately choose to trust in something bigger than ourselves and quit attempting to control everything. Here is when actual transformation begins.
Let us dissect the reasons this Step is so revolutionary!
Step 3 Prayer: A Surrender to Your Higher Power
A major turning point in recovery, the Step 3 prayer is essentially declaring, “Hey, I can’t do this on my own anymore!”
It is all about giving your will to your Higher Power—whoever that might be for you. Many times, this prayer sounds like this:
This basic yet effective prayer helps you move from attempting to control everything to be receptive to divine direction. Said another way, “I’m not in control, and that’s totally okay!”
Accepting this prayer provides:
An opportunity to let go of great weight
Space for recovery and optimism
a route of transformation.
The Step 3 prayer can be a potent means to enhance your conection with your Higher Power, whether you repeat it every day or under trying circumstances. Strength. It reveals your will to go this road of rehabilitation.
Try it then, too! You could simply find great amazement in what happens.
What Does Step 3 AA Mean?
The official Step 3 Alcoholics Anonymous language is:
“Made the choice to give our will n our life to God as we understood Him.”
These days, this could sound really religious. Still, avoid stressing; Step 3 is not about adhering to a certain religion. It’s about YOU discovering your own Higher Power interpretation.
Whichever makes sense to you, it may be God, the universe, nature, love. Our choice is the most crucial aspect. We are saying, “That’s okay; I do not know all the answers.” I’m going to believe in something better to steer me.
Why AA Step 3 Is the Turning Point
Third step does not center perfection. It has to do with making decisions. Though we cannot see the complete road ahead, we decide to believe a Higher Power. Since this is the moment we begin to release the weight we have been carrying, it is sometimes considered as the turning point.
In Steps 1 and 2, you have already done the difficult part—owning weakness and discovering hope in something more. Step 3 now is our action in which we give our will to that Higher Power over control. And when you do as well? Life lightens. I promise you.
Why Is Letting Go of Control So Hard?
Addiction does, after all, flourish on control. We grow used to managing our feelings, relationships, and public impression of ourselves. Therefore, it is quite normal to get nervous when Step 3 urges us to “let go.”
The secret is, though, control is an illusion. We never starting with had it.
All of our attempts to control life and its anarchy caused us suffering, damaged relationships, and—well—addiction. What then exactly does letting go mean?
It is not resigning from life. It’s about believing that there is a better strategy—one more expansive than the one we have been attempting to follow (and failing).
“God As We Understood Him” – What’s the Deal?
The term “God as we understood Him” can trip folks. Step 3 may seem to them as requiring them to adopt a religious doctrine.
But stop there immediately. Not what is happening here is what I mean.
Step 3 AA lets you totally free to define your Higher Power anyway you desire.
Some people find it the conventional understanding of God.
For some, it might be the universe, nature, or even NA’s own ideals.
It’s about relating to something greater than your own will since, to be honest, our will brought us down the road to anarchy.
Self-Will vs. God’s Will
Ah, self-will…. That is the part of ourselves that strives for control over everything, pushes events to fit us—even if it results in tragedy. You know that feeling, right?
Self-will is the attempt, even if it is obviously not successful, to govern all you do.
God’s will, or that of your Higher Power, is unique. It’s about believing that you have a brighter future than what you can currently see—one that is part of a greater scheme. You are not giving up. You are choose to trust in something more solid and let go of the craziness.
The Illusion of Control
Having been clutching the steering wheel for so long, you have been negotiating life in the middle of a storm. The reality is, though, control is only an illusion. One’s life is messy. We cannot control every element no matter how firmly we grab on.
Third step AA is like stating, “You know what? Perhaps someone else—or something—is more suited to negotiate this storm than I am. You are still on the road; you are simply not dictating everything.
Surrender is freedom; it does not mean you are helpless.
How to Practice Step 3 AA Daily
Alright, so how do you really work Step 3 AA daily? Excellent question. Here are some easy approaches you may start working on it right now:
- Every morning ask yourself, “Am I trying to control things today, or am I trusting the process?”
- Even if you are not religious, a basic prayer like “Help me let go” or a meditative on surrender can make a big difference.
- Let Go of Outcomes: Though it’s not what you expected, believe that things will turn out as they should. Yes, this one requires work, but stopping yourself from stressing over outcomes is quite freeing.
- Discuss with your sponsor: This is rather big. Draw on your network of support. Discuss your thoughts, worries, and disappointments about giving up control. Sometimes you can relax into it by hearing someone else’s experience.
Surrender Doesn’t Mean Quitting
Let’s clear something up: Surrendering in Step 3 AA doesn’t mean giving up on your life.
It implies letting the fight go. You start trusting the process instead of trying to regulate the uncontrollably.
Consider yourself in a car and the road is really slick. Though you are still skidding all over the place, you are holding the steering wheel like insane. That is will on your own.
Third AA is like at last stating, “You know what? Perhaps someone else would be more suited for driving under these circumstances. You are merely letting someone with more experience drive; you are not stopping the trip.
SThird step AA Worksheet: A Rapid Guide
I have included an extensive Step 3 AA worksheet to assist you. Here is how one may approach it:
Be honest: Jot down your ideas on releasing control and turning to a Higher Power.
Collaborate with your sponsor. Go over the worksheet with someone. They will enable you to consider how one can really give up.
Higher Power Focus: Discover how you might follow God’s will and what your Higher Power means to you.
This worksheet will hone your understa.nding of Step 3—helping you trust, let go, and move forward in recovery.
Download Step 3 Aa Worksheet
What Does Surrender Look Like in Everyday Life?
What then, on a daily basis, does submission really look like? It is not about some grand, theatrical event. Every day, our little decisions count:
deciding not to respond angrily when events do not go your way.
Let rid of perfectionism and come to see that good enough is sufficient.
Owning when you need assistance and requesting it.
Knowing that even in the middle of seeming anarchy, there is a more general strategy at work.
Surrender is about changing your perspective from “I.” have to fix everything” to “I’m going to do my part and trust that the rest will work out.”
Who Can Be Your Higher Power?
Your Higher Power need not be a conventional God.
Many in AA can find it to be:
Twelve-step ideas
The community discovered in gatherings
The brotherhood of fellow sufferers from addiction
You may all negotiate your road of recuperation with these components.
The crucial thing is that it’s something more than yourself—something you can rely on to get you through trying circumstances.
Changing your perspective on a Higher Power will help you to release loneliness. It links you with something more than yourself—a necessary component of your healing.
Conclusion
Focusing on surrender and trust, Step 3 AA is a potent tool in your road of recovery.
Release the demand for control to create fresh opportunities. You get grounded and stronger.
Thus, keep in mind that this phase of the trip is natural even if you are reluctant or afraid about it.
One day at a time, rely on the process, and draw on your support network.
Not only are you not alone in this. Welcome the freedom that results from giving your will overrule.
Reference
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Official Website – This site provides comprehensive information about the 12 Steps, including Step 3.
“The Big Book” – The foundational text of Alcoholics Anonymous that discusses the 12 Steps in detail. It’s available in many formats, including online.
“Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” – Another key text that offers insight into each step and its importance in recovery.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Offers research and insights into addiction treatment and recovery, including the role of 12-step programs.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Provides resources and information related to addiction recovery and treatment options.
1 comment
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