My REVISED 12-Step Program

I never knew what the 12 steps were, but when I looked it up I was appalled. No wonder so many people have trouble overcoming their addictions. The whole 12 steps are based on religion, and discourage people from exploring and discovering their personal power and capabilities. The Truth is that Power comes from within! One does not need to have been an addict to understand that. I have overcome many challenges and self-destructive behavior using the 12 steps I have created below. Also, if one is not religious, how will that 12 steps work for them? They are saying that "god" is the only way to overcome this challenge, and that is just not true! Perhaps "god" gives hope to some people and truly does motivate them, but that can not be expected to work for everyone.

Even if there is a stronger force, for people to truly overcome addictions I think they must rely on their selves to do it. The original 12-step is discouraging. It tells people they are basically bad, and in order to get over that... they must give themselves over to god. This is the problem I have with it. Instead of making people feel guilty and like they are too weak to overcome on their own and must seek god to do it, the program should be inspiring people and helping them realize their own power and potential. THAT is what will truly change them and make it so they NEVER go back.

If I am missing something or if there are different versions of the 12 step program, please let me know.

Below I have included the original 12 step program, and under each original step are my revised steps in Bold.

The 12 Steps

Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable

Step 1. – We admitted we had Power over our challenge, that with perseverance and strength of the mind, our lives could become manageable.

Step 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

Step 2. – Came to believe that Power comes from within, and that our minds can overcome all.

Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God

Step 3. – Made a decision to discover our passion and dreams, and not let anything stand in the way

Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

Step 4 - Made a searching and fearless inventory of ourselves, facing our demons head on and working to understand ourselves

Step 5 - Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs

Step 5. – Admitted to Ourselves that we are human, and although we can surrender to weakness, it is only temporary, as we have recognized the power of our mind.

Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character

Step 6. – We are entirely ready to forgive ourselves and create a better reality and successful future.

Step 7 - Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings

Step 7. – Humbly move forward, keeping our minds open and a willingness to learn and grow and handle obstacles as they come.

Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all

Step 8. – Made a list of all our achievements, goals, dreams, and positive acts we can accomplish

Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

Step 9. – Made amends with our pasts, and the people we hurt, realizing that we still have time to do so much good, and make the future count.

Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it

Step 10. – Continue to explore ourselves and become more aware of our thoughts and actions. Learn from mistakes as they happen and allow ourselves to Grow.

Step 11 - Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out

Step 11. – Meditate on our thoughts, choices, and past. Grow in self-awareness and become more powerful and confident of our capabilities and potential.

Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs

Step 12. – Having reached a conscious awaking as a result of these steps, Share with others who have similar challenges and inspire them through action and example.