Hi Splitmage, I don’t “do” AA. I can’t say that I had much luck with it when I tried it. But, at one time I was an active member, so I know the steps. I do use parts of the steps in my recovery—some of them I modify quite a bit. I think some of the concepts are good tools to keeping me sober and turning me into a better person. Step 3 is one of my favorites.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of god as we understood him.

Today, I believe my higher power to be Knowledge. Turning my will and my life over to the care of knowledge means I follow through with things in a manner that follows my knowledge not my will. Like I know drinking is bad for me. If I don’t listen to that knowledge and put it into action, I will drink. I am making a choice to follow the knowledge not my desire to drink. When I turn the desire to drink over to knowledge, it means I follow through with what the knowledge tells me to do—things that keep me sober—like calling a friend.

I know this is a very different way of looking at things and it might be a little weird, but it works for me.