12 Steps Agnostica
Dearest J,
Since discovering that I might need more “universal language” despite my beliefs in God or faith as I understand faith, which is kind of more open-minded, I don’t know how that would build into my 12-Step work since this cuts kind of deep.
Luckily, I was guided to AAAgnostica, which has FANTASTIC info, including a few other links like ACAAgnostica and CoDAAgnostics.
I think this is important, as I’m sharing 12 Step info with my partner (or ex-partner or whatever, if you guys read we’re NOT doing ok right now, and basically I think he’s hit his rock bottom … or “a” rock bottom, bc he’s starting to do the Step work himself.) He actually confided in me that he’s on Step 4 and wrote a letter. I told him, he needs a sponsor, to which he responded, “do I?” and yeah. So that’s cool that he’s open to it at least.
Some more info below, to which my partner said that Gabor Mate had great points. I appreciate Gabor Mate as he’s a Hungarian Jew, who had family involved in the Holocaust, similar to my own family’s history. My partner appreciated the more “open” ideas of faith he expressed here, which include a commentary on the “ego”, which has close ties to ACIM (A Course in Miracles) terminology.
Lastly, I just loved this version of the Steps, by Proactive 12 Steps:
Step 1 – I get it: What I’ve been doing is self-destructive. I need to change.
Step 2 – I see the big pictures: The way to stop relapsing into self-destructive behaviors is to build a healthier sense of self.
Step 3 – I have an action plan: From now on, I am squarely facing everything that is in the way of feeling really satisfied with my life.
Step 4 – I honestly look at the effects of my actions on others and myself.
Step 5 – I take responsibility for my actions.
Step 6 – I see that my knee-jerk reactions have to do with being in the grip of more or less conscious fears.
Step 7 – I strive to find my motivation in a deeper sense
Step 8 – I stop blaming and feeling blamed, with a willingness to heal the wounds.
Step 9 – I swallow my pride, and sincerely apologize to people I’ve hurt, except when this would be counterproductive.
Step 10 – I live mindfully, paying attention to the motives and effects of my actions.
Step 11 – I stay in touch with a broader sense of what I really want.
Step 12 – A growing sense of wholeness and contentment motivates me to keep at it, and to share this process with others who are struggling.
The Proactive Twelve Steps used courtesy of http://proactive12steps.com
Ok, thanks for listening again J — that’s all for now.
Until next time … <3 Fay
