So what has worked for me? I think it’s important too to realise that this perspective is “AA” and part of the religion unique to AA along with it’s loosely defined deity. turning it over phrase. You just don’t understand!!!! You make decisions all day everyday, right? Go Back: Find Recovery » AA Meetings » AA Meetings Virginia » AA Meetings Alexandria AA Meeting: Twilight Zone–turn It Over – Alexandria For More Information on Meetings and Times Call 866-641-9190 ? Early on, I thought the progress I was making in recovery was possibly about “faking it ‘til I made it” (to a belief in god). It means developing self- reliance by working the Steps in collaboration with a sponsor, through our reading of 12 Step literature, going to meetings and hearing how others work their programs. A disease which absolves me from responsibility!!! Any time. But no god. © Jason Wahlerdocument.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All Rights Reserved. Before ending, I want to repeat that the opinions I have expressed are mine alone and are not in any way meant to suggest that they are global truths. I worked the Steps but never did a 3rd Step in a formal sense. My way ended up with REBT and also in doing my very best to excise “narcissism” from my life in all of its devious (Eewww! Posts: 2654 . But more specifically, what does “turning it over” mean, absent the god factor? It’s about what’s going on in me at the moment. Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums-> Alcoholics Anonymous-> Alcoholics Anonymous-> Turning It Over. New to A.A.? And thank you so much for the link to the REBT site. What Does NYIG Do? That does the trick for me. Step 3 as published in 1939: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Turn It Over Location Temporarily Closed Back to Meetings. You may not be able to change some things in your life, but you can make a decision to change your willingness to surrender, trust and seek knowledge. I read these and thought the chapter on Step 2 to be conceptually very well stated but the chapter on Step 3, while again well written, was completely irrelevant to and avoidant of addressing the Step’s focus – “turning one’s will and life over to the care of God”. This has in fact deterred me from physically approaching the Fellowship a few years back, as I browsed about the 12 steps and throughout them found many worrying utterances of the G word. AA Agnostica © 2021. It does not mean I shouldn’t talk to Program friends, a sponsor or a therapist or a spiritual guide. This said, I also want to say that I am not denying the possible existence of a god. Thanks for bringing it to light with your comment. For me, the 3rd step means learning to take things in stride, to do the best you can and not worry too much about how things are going to work out. AA Members; Professionals; Contribute; Meetings; About; Events; AA Members; Professionals; Contribute; Turn It Over Group Back to Meetings. Coffee!! Sometimes I define this part of me as that into whom I am in the process of evolving, since I realize that I have grown immensely since my first year of recovery. Date: Nov 29, 2007. I was smug, arrogant, self-satisfied, and certain that every area of my life except my alcoholism was firmly and securely under my control. A simple--not easy--procedure, I've been told, and one that would undoubtedly simplify my life, if I could ever take it. The ‘God’ of my then understanding (aka the one I made up) turned out to be a substitute parent and prevented me from taking full responsibility for my life. Find a Meeting; Addictions. In a sense AA IS the 12 steps. Bob F. lives in Tucson, Arizona, and is a 75 year old psychotherapist who recently marked 30 years in the Program, in August. Home › AA Meetings › New York › New York › Turn It Over. New to A.A.? Recovery can be godless. As a kid, he was kicked out of Sunday school class for challenging orthodoxy and has never had any connection to the faith of his family. Oh Hell NO! What Does A.A. Do? I messed up my life up badly. Looking for Waldorf AA meetings to help you stay sober? For some people a three-letter word can be even worse than a four-letter word. I quit trying to work around the steps and just dropped them. 3 Elm St Vernon, CT 06066. I have been using the technique for years, since having been exposed to it through The Life Training in the late 80’s. I had my last drink 25 years later in 2004, and certainly hope it is my last. Meeting Information. “Liv’n the dream.”. Brought to me in vivid living technicolor by just one thing. When I first corresponded with Roger, about my interest to learn about Steps 2 and 3, from an atheist / agnostic perspective, he was very encouraging about my writing the article and felt it would definitely get replies from AA Agnostica readers. Is my current concept of a Higher Power working my need to change? In talking to my then sponsor he just said, “Well… god either removes the obsession or he doesn’t”. Get Directions Meeting Information. How does surrender in the first step relate to or help the third step? Dr. Ellis cuts to the quick in short order with a thought and action model which for me anyway took little time in making a big difference: Albert Ellis & Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). A theological battle that has raged for centuries. Step Three. I found your article enlightening and will give the “inner higher power” a shot. Going to meetings and feeling safe to share the history of my character defects, journaling, reading program literature and staying in touch with a co-sponsor (BTW also going to personal therapy) helped me get to a place in which I did not have an addiction relapse. I have now submitted it to AA, and it is being published in The Myna Bird, our Hawaiian publication. You'll get exclusive free access to Daily Meditations, Speaker Tapes and Daily Online Video AA / NA meetings. 157967 District 02; Updated … Looking for Fallbrook AA meetings to help you stay sober? Find out what meeting times and availability are for Turn It Over. Kim Tobin reports for NBC News. 141. an AA meeting is where losers get together to talk about their winnings 142. Thank you Bob for articulating so clearly the issues that I still struggle with in AA. As part of your recovery process it’s helpful to take the time to ask and then answer important questions pertaining to step three. Friday, 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm. For me I found this right on – I am somewhat of a arrogant atheist – – the myth of belief is to me so much BS – however I dont tell my believer friends that in or out of the program – I am 25 yrs plus a bit sober, dont feel a real need for meetings, but like our freethinkers local meetings so I often attend – – not because I need them, but I want them. The steps equate self confidence with arrogance. The twelve steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) recovery program is the spiritual foundation for personal recovery, used not only by people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) but by their friends and family in Al-Anon and Alateen programs. We can surrender a lifetime of self-will run amok by making the decision to turn it all over to a Higher Power and allow someone and something to care for us. There’s even an acronym that some like to use to remind themselves that a room full of other recovering addicts is their Higher Power: When practicing the third step we discover the spaciousness for a variety of positive and useful beliefs about a Higher Power. Tuesday: 04:30 PM. 37 years sober, I’m still sometimes climbing out of the immaturity well. Thanks again for your post, wish we could sit down for coffee. Taking the positive action of working the steps has clearly changed the course of our lives. Well written Bob! Because I believe so strongly in positive group psychology, I have always been uncomfortable with the religiosity displayed by many AA members and groups, which I see as a type of NEGATIVE group psychology. Thank you! Not helpful. My family has tried relentlessly to convince me this “higher power” component could be molded into something I find truth in. 140. if you turn it over and don't let go of it,you will be upside down. Those HP god steps are not universal and I don’t have to adapt to them. How has it affected others? All Rights Reserved. A little fatalistic Buddhist philosophy and Stoic advice helps as well. Turning It Over. Friday: 4:30 PM. Anyway, thanks again, a lot of good thoughts. What took me some time to understand internalize/accept is the ‘higher Power’ notion, detached from its association with the God image and redefined could be useful. Alcohol; Interventions; Detox; Rehab; Recovery; Help for a Loved One; Blog; Get Help; Get 24/7 Addiction Help 800-839-1686 Who Answers? Day in and day out but it has worked for me to share flip something that! Alexandria AA Meetings » AA Meetings › California › Fallbrook › Turn it over – Fall River AA to... Go Back: find recovery » AA Meetings Maryland » AA Meetings California. 9, 2018 AA Central Service Committee of Eastern Mass god steps are universal... Of higher power working in my opinion, the word “ god ” being used in.. 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