Al-Anon 12 Steps

I'm uncertain if this is where this thread belongs. I have been going to Al-Anon meetings recently and I have accomplished the first step. (1. "We admitted we were powerless - that our lives have become unmanageable.") I quit drinking to support my friend who is recovering. I'm really proud of him. We haven't had a drink in ten weeks!

I'm trying to work on the next step (2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to our sanity.") I have been meditating lately but I don't know what else I should do because I don't feel like I'm quite there yet.

I also don't have a sponsor and I would like one, do I announce that in my share that I'm looking for one?

This is the right spot to post. It would be fine to announce you are looking for a sponsor. I suggest you take some time a pick someone that has some time in the program and that you like and respect. It takes a little while to get to know people. Picking a sponsor is something you do. You ask someone if they would be your sponsor. They can help you work the steps. This is why you want someone with a lot of experience.

Maybe go back to the first step and write out all of the areas of life you think you are powerless over and all the areas of life that you think are unmanageable for you. What do you want to improve, areas you want to grow in. What things have caused you problems. Step two is basically believing you need help with those issues. That on your own under your own will power you will not be able to change those things.

I like to use the example of say a valve breaks in my car engine. I can't afford a new car and decide I will have it repaired. Well I can't repair a broken valve in my engine. I need the help of someone else.

The group you are a part of can be a power greater than yourself. The total power of the group is more than the power of each individual added up. The total equals more than the sum of its parts.

Yeah that's true. I ended up re-evaluating step one. I'm trying to spend a little bit of each day to read al-anon literature and working on my step work. My home group offers literature that we can take home and return them when we are finished. The book provided me a little bit of help although I'm still going to read some literature.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Huh. It looks like they have more literature than I knew about. I have only seen "The Courage to Change" and "One Day at a Time" and the pamphlets.

Home

AA has a book called the 12 x 12. You can read it online for free. It might help you with step work.

Alcoholics Anonymous : Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

When you get a sponsor she may want to start at step one again but that doesn't matter, you will just breeze through the work you have done on your own.

They have pamphlets and other books that I haven't looked at yet. But thanks again!