Paraphrased
Version of the 12 Steps
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We
acknowledge and accept that we are powerless
in controlling the lives of others, and that
trying to control makes our lives
unmanageable.
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We have come
to believe that a power greater than
ourselves can restore enough order and hope
in our lives to move us to a growth
framework.
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We make a
decision to turn our lives over to this
power to the best of our ability, and
honestly accept that taking responsibility
for ourselves is the only way growth is
possible.
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We make an
inventory of ourselves, looking for our
mental, emotional, spiritual, physical,
volitional, and social assets and
liabilities. We look at what we have, how we
use it, and how we can acquire what we need.
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Using this
inventory as a guide, we admit to ourselves,
to God as we understand him, and to other
caring persons, the exact nature of what is
within that is causing ourselves pain.
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We give to
God as we know Him, all former pain, hurt
and mistakes, resentments and bitterness,
anger and guilt. We trust that we can let go
of the hurt we cause and receive.
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We can ask
for help, support and guidance and be
willing to take responsibility for ourselves
and to others.
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We begin a
program of living responsibly for ourselves,
for our own feelings, mistakes, and
successes. We become responsible for our
part in relationship to others.
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We make a
list of persons to whom we want to make
amends and commence to do so, except where
doing so would cause further pain for
others.
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We continue
to work our program, each day checking out
our progress and asking for feedback from
others in our attempt to recover and grow.
We do this through support groups.
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We see
through our own power and a Higher Power,
awareness of our inner selves. We do this
through reading, listening, meditation,
sharing, and other ways of centering and
getting in touch with our inner selves.
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Having
experienced the power of growing toward
wholeness, we find our bodies, minds and
spirits awakened to a new sense of physical
and emotional relief which leaves us open to
a new awareness of spirituality. We seek to
explore our meaning in life by honest
sharing with others, remembering that
BECOMING WHO WE ARE is a lifetime task which
must be done one day at a time.
Source: Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse,
Choicemaking, Health
Communications, Inc., Pompano Beach, 1985),
p. 148.
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