1. We admitted we were powerless over the effects of alcoholism or other family dysfunction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
1. We admitted that we were powerless over the effects of living with alcoholism and that our lives had become unmanageable.
(Powerlessness and Surrender, BRB p.129)
2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could bring us clarity.
(Open-Mindedness and Clarity, BRB p.137)
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand God.
3. We made a decision to practice self-love and to trust a Higher Power of our understanding.
(Willingness and Accepting Help, BRB p.149)
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
4. We made a searching and blameless inventory of our parents because, in essence, we had become them.
(Self-Honesty and Courage, BRB p.188)
5. Admitted to God, to our selves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
5. We admitted to our Higher Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our childhood abandonment.
(Honesty and Trust, BRB p.206)
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
6. We were entirely ready to begin the healing process with the aid of our Higher Power.
(Willingness, BRB p.216)
7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
7. We humbly asked our Higher Power to help us with our healing process.
(Humility, BRB p.226)
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all
8. We became willing to open ourselves to receive the unconditional love of our Higher Power.
(Willingness and Self-Forgiveness, BRB p.234)
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
9. We became willing to accept our own unconditional love by understanding that our Higher Power loves us unconditionally.
(Forgiveness and Courage, BRB p.249)
10. Continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and to love and approve of ourselves.
(Honesty and Discernment, BRB p.262)
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understand God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry it out.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of its will for us and the power to carry it out.
(Seeking and Listening, BRB p.278)
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others who still suffer, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
12. We have had a spiritual awakening as a result of taking these steps, and we continue to love ourselves and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
(Love and Self-Love, BRB p.294)
ACA Lunchtime and Speakers Meeting 