18 Nov Step 11: AA and Spirituality

This blog post was written by Recovery Help Now’s, Cindy Weathers, MA.

By the time you arrive at Step Eleven, you most likely have become comfortable with the concept of spirituality.  The phrase “God, as we understood Him,” demonstrates clearly that, whatever your belief is, some spiritual contact is essential to your recovery program.

One simple way of understanding spirituality is to see that it is concerned with your ability, through your attitudes and actions, to relate to others, to yourself, and to the God of your own understanding.  The way that AA members share their experiences of suffering is akin to what happens in a family or the military, where the idea of “we’re all in this together” becomes particularly strong.  Someone will share something profound that everyone can connect with beyond themselves, and it can be very moving.  That is a spiritual process.

Those who have been fortunate enough to find a support group and have participated in recovery by being an active member of that group—have come to know the comfort of being a “part of” rather than feeling pain and loneliness because you don’t seem to fit in anywhere. This fellowship provides the benefit of hearing how others learned to pray and meditate.

For those who are loners, or whose circumstances preclude involvement with others, Step Eleven is like a guiding light. Its focus on meditation in addition to prayer teaches how to create calm in the face of chaos.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to spirituality and that’s why it’s such a powerful force.  You spirituality will guide you on your path to recovery, clarity and self-actualization.