31 Mar The Purpose of Step Three: Achieving A Sober Life

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

What exactly is step three trying to teach and how does it have any effect over your will to remain sober? The most important lesson that step three reveals is that we are not the center of the universe and it is imperative that we quit playing God in our lives and in the lives of others.

If you believe that you are the center of the universe, then you will constantly be frustrated and angry that the world is not operating according to your plans. Step three shows the recovering addict that in order to be restored to sanity they must make a decision, followed by action in the rest of the steps, to turn his or her will and our Life over to God as they understand Him/Her.

If you really want to change, you must do more than just acknowledge that these steps are good ideas. You must take actions to incorporate them into your everyday life.  Living a sober life is a choice and something you will have to work at. It won’t be easy at first. There will be tremendous ups and downs, but they will pass. And in the end, finally living free of addiction will feel glorious.

The universe is too vast and complex to conform to your self centered interests.  Things don’t happen to us, they just happen, and it’s up to each one of us to interpret those things and to deal with them. It’s not our role to control the things that happen around us. That is impossible and only leads to the type of insanity and frustration that sends us running for the comfort of our addiction.  Drugs and alcohol cause you to turn inward, creating a false sense that you have some control over your very small space in the world.

You may find that when you accept that change and inconsistency are a natural part of the universe, that you experience an unmatched sense of peace and strength.