What’s up y’all, it’s your girl coming at you with some real talk about the 12 steps and how they can help us get our lives together. I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve been through some stuff in my life and sometimes it feels like there’s no way out. But that’s where the 12 steps come in - they give us a roadmap to healing, recovery, and a better life.
Step 1: Admitting Powerlessness
Step 2: Believing in a Higher Power
This step is all about acknowledging that there’s something bigger than ourselves out there. It doesn’t matter what we believe in - it could be God, the universe, our ancestors, or even just the power of love and community. The important thing is to realize that we’re not the center of the universe, and that there’s a greater purpose to our lives.
Step 3: Turning Our Will Over to a Higher Power
This step is all about surrendering control to that higher power. It can be scary to let go of the reins, but once we do, we’ll find that things start to fall into place more naturally. We don’t have to force things anymore - we can trust that the universe has our back and will guide us in the right direction.
Step 4: Taking a Moral Inventory
This step is all about taking a hard look at ourselves and the things we’ve done in the past. We have to be brutally honest with ourselves - no one else can do it for us. It can be painful to confront our mistakes and flaws, but it’s necessary if we want to move forward and become better people.
Step 5: Admitting Our Wrongs to Ourselves and Others
This step is all about making amends. We have to own up to our mistakes and apologize to anyone we’ve hurt in the past. It’s not easy, but it’s the only way to truly move on and let go of the guilt and shame that’s been holding us back.
Step 6: Being Ready to Have Our Flaws Removed
This step is all about being open to change. We have to be willing to let go of our old ways of thinking and behaving in order to become the best version of ourselves. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it in the end.
Step 7: Asking a Higher Power to Remove Our Flaws
This step is all about asking for help. We can’t do it alone - we need the support of our higher power and the people around us to help us overcome our flaws and become the best version of ourselves.
Step 8: Making a List of People We’ve Hurt and Being Willing to Make Amends
This step is all about taking action. We have to make a list of all the people we’ve hurt in the past, and be willing to reach out to them and make things right. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary if we want to move forward and live a life free from guilt and shame.
Step 9: Making Amends to Those We’ve Hurt
This step is all about taking action. We have to reach out to the people we’ve hurt in the past and make things right. It can be scary, but once we do it, we’ll feel a huge weight lifted off our shoulders.
Step 10: Continuously Taking a Moral Inventory
This step is all about staying vigilant. We have to constantly be aware of our thoughts and actions, and make sure we’re not slipping back into old patterns. It’s a lifelong process, but one that’s worth the effort.
Step 11: Praying or Meditating to Improve Our Conscious Contact with a Higher Power
This step is all about staying connected to our higher power. We have to set aside time each day to pray, meditate, or just connect with something greater than ourselves. It’s a way to stay grounded and centered, no matter what life throws our way.
Step 12: Carrying the Message to Others
This step is all about giving back. Once we’ve gone through the 12 steps and experienced the benefits firsthand, it’s our duty to help others do the same. Whether that means volunteering, sponsoring someone in a recovery program, or just being there for a friend in need, we can all make a difference.
So there you have it, y’all - the 12 steps broken down in plain talk, no fancy words or jargon. I hope this has helped some of y’all out there, and if you’re struggling with addiction or just feel lost in life, remember that there’s always hope. We’re all in this together.
