Step 3 in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the pivotal point in recovery when you make, “A decision to turn our lives and our will over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
At Crestview Recovery we provide alcohol rehab and addiction treatment in Porland, Oregon. The 12 Steps are useful guides for those in recovery whether you’re overcoming alcohol addiction or another substance use issue.
What is the Purpose of Step 3?
The purpose of Step 3 in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is to encourage you to give your life to a higher power. Many people who hear this step misinterpret its meaning. It is not necessarily about religion. Although AA is based on Christian principles, a higher power can be anything you believe in.
When a person becomes dependent on alcohol, their body is unable to function properly without it. Or at least that’s what it feels like. The withdrawal symptoms and relapse triggers of alcohol addiction make it extremely difficult to quit the pattern of drinking. Once you make the decision to join AA, you have unknowingly participated in Step 3 already.
When you join AA you have taken a step towards independence. You are attempting to break the cycle of alcohol dependency by seeking treatment from an organization. In this case, AA is the higher power in your life. It is important to understand that anything you believe in can be a higher power. When you’re ready to detox from alcohol and begin an alcohol addiction treatment program in Portland, we can help!
How to Complete Step 3 in AA
In order to complete Step 3 in Alcoholics Anonymous, you must fully commit to the teachings. A major component of AA Step 3 is the phrase, “made a decision.” If you do not choose to turn your life over to a higher power, you will not achieve full independence. The truest form of independence is a belief in a higher power, or living for something greater than yourself.
To fully overcome addiction, you must make a complete mental shift. Your brain is warped to believe that it needs alcohol to function. You must replace this belief by accepting a higher power into your life. The cycle of alcohol addiction cannot be broken without a full commitment to AA Step 3.
Accepting a higher power into your life is not an overnight process. Once you have chosen to have faith in a greater power, you must foster this relationship with meditation and prayer. Having a greater power in your life will ensure that you are not alone. No matter what happens in your life, you have a power greater than yourself to lean on.
How Does AA Step 3 Help You Overcome Alcohol Addiction?
Step 3 in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) replaces dependency on alcohol with independence. Alcohol misuse typically begins as a way to cope with problems in your life. You may not even realize you are addicted until you try to quit drinking. Once your body becomes dependent on alcohol to feel normal, you have developed an addiction.
In order to break the cycle of alcohol misuse, you need to find something else in your life that replaces substance use. AA Step 3 states that you should initiate a relationship with a power greater than yourself. Believing and having faith in a higher power gives your life a greater meaning. You are living for something greater than yourself.
Once you have started a relationship with this higher power, you can begin to replace alcohol use with reflection and meditation. Communicating with a higher power helps you consider a different path that leads to peace and happiness. You can confidently practice positive behaviors and avoid bad habits by applying the wisdom and guidance of a greater power.
Is the Higher Power God?
God can be the higher power in your life, but you do not have to choose Him as your higher power. Alcoholics Anonymous is open to anyone of any background. You will be successful in AA Step 3 if you are willing to turn your life over to a higher power.
A higher power can be anything you believe in, including
- Love
- Art
- Music
- Allah
- Buddha
- Humanity
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Nature
- Meditation
It is important to approach AA with an open mind and an open heart. The healing you experience comes from believing in a greater power. The higher power you believe in is something you can lean on when times get tough. It gives you the extra strength you need to overcome your battle with addiction.
How Can One Seek Wisdom From Their Higher Power?
You can seek guidance and wisdom from a power greater than yourself through prayer and meditation. Your connection with a higher power will grow as you progress through recovery. As this bond grows, you will be able to rely on this power when you need strength. Having this connection helps you reflect on your past and experience healing.
When you believe and have faith in a higher power, your life is given new meaning. Your hope is restored during Step 3, providing the motivation you need to achieve sober living. The basis of what you believe in is where you draw your strength from. As you progress through recovery, continue to communicate with a higher power through reflection, prayer, and meditation.
How Does a Greater Power Help You Overcome Guilt?
Once a person has given their life to a higher power, they can feel peace from negative feelings such as guilt and shame. Alcohol addiction can cause major dysfunction in a person’s life. It can negatively affect your job, relationships, and family. With the strength of a higher power, you can overcome these problems.
It is easy to wallow in guilt after you have begun your recovery journey in a substance use treatment program. You may wonder how you are going to fix the problems you have caused in your life. It may be hard to begin making amends, but it is important to remember that you have made a mental shift.
Your loved ones understand that you have been suffering from a disease, and they are happy you have chosen to begin a new path. You will find the strength to repair damaged relationships through holistic therapy involving a higher power. Living with a greater purpose helps you focus on the present and future while learning and growing from the past.
How Does AA Step 3 Relate to the Rest of the 12 Steps?
Before a person can move past AA Step 3, they must make a persistent and determined effort to believe in a higher power. The remaining steps are made much easier when you have succeeded in Step 3 because it sets the foundation for recovery. After you have given your life to the will of a greater power, you are no longer alone.
The next steps in AA are guidelines for reflection and communication with a higher power. A major component of reflection is accepting your past mistakes and finding healing. If you choose to ignore your past feelings, they will haunt you for the rest of your life. The 12 Steps of AA help you overcome the hardship you suffered before.
The problems you face after Step 3 seem much smaller because your life has a greater purpose. Where you had previously turned to alcohol to solve your problems, you now find solace in a higher power. Prayer and meditation help you emotionally balance during tough times, even after recovery.
How Can Your Sponsor Help in Step 3?
When going through recovery, it is important to communicate with your sponsor. Sponsors have been through AA and understand what it takes to achieve sobriety. When choosing your sponsor, find someone who relates to your situation and acts as a mentor. It easier to work through the 12 Steps when you have a good relationship with your sponsor.
You may have many questions about AA, especially during the first three steps. Accepting that you cannot control addiction and handing over your will to a greater power are two of the most important parts of the 12 Steps. However, they are also the two hardest parts to understand. Your sponsor has been through these steps already so they can provide you with, advice, encouragement, and motivation.
The first three steps set the foundation for recovery. After you have set the foundation, you reflect back and apply the skill you have learned to the remaining steps. When you’re practicing these steps, your sponsor is a great resource to have. Your sponsor is a person you can lean on when the temptation to relapse strikes. After completing addiction treatment, it’s a good idea to attend group meetings and gain the support of your peers as well. Our team at Crestview Recovery can help you find an AA meeting in Portland, Oregon.
How Does Crestview Recovery Treat Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction can affect anyone at any point in time. Without proper treatment, addiction can consume your life and leave you broken. At Crestview Recovery, we believe it is important for clients to have a strong support system throughout the recovery process.
Located in Portland, OR, Crestview Recovery provides alcohol addiction treatment using principles from 12-step programming. We know how hard it is to battle addiction, which is why we have developed a comprehensive treatment approach. Our staff works with clients individually to ensure a full recovery. Families are encouraged to participate during treatment so that clients feel comfortable and at home.
If you or a loved one wants to achieve sobriety, contact us to learn more about our alcohol addiction program!
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
