Finding a Higher Power

Having learned that we can’t make any real or lasting progress on our own, we begin to find the courage to look elsewhere, outside of ourselves, for some help. This may involve various groups, counselors, teachers and books to aid us in our recovery. Emotional maturity comes through hard work. We don't become doctors and lawyers and accountants without studying hard and going to school and we won't gain emotional maturity without also putting a lot of extra effort and time into the project.

Typically, the things that we find ourselves afraid to do will be a signal to us in phase one of our recovery. If we are afraid to go to meetings, then we probably need more meetings. If we don’t like to sit still and read, then we probably need to sit still and read. In Phase one recovery, we begin to see that our entire being is subject to our own selfish inner will. We have to examine ourselves and search for our weaknesses. We have to also begin to utilize the higher emotions that will replace the older negative emotions. A “Higher Power” becomes a reality when we learn to face our inner attractions or aversions and, instead, instill that Higher Power into our lives.

Of course, the application of the ideas which are presented in the 12-step groups take a lot work and effort to be put into practice. Attending 12-step meetings and changing our lifestyle won’t just happen by reading a book. It will take a stringent application of many of the suggestions which are commonly given at these groups such as reaching out to help others, providing service to others, utilizing prayer and meditation for a better life. It is not something that can be talked about so much as it has to be done. As we begin to take these ideas seriously, we begin to look at the things that we "over-indulge" in and begin to watch ourselves more closely around our negative behaviors. We may keep better track of our spending habits or our obsessive television watching. We may start a daily calendar and check off the number of times we did something we told ourselves we “wouldn't do”. Once we have safely put our worst habits behind us, it then becomes possible to actually look at other habits that we never even dreamed of changing. This is the process of phase one recovery and the beginning of a relief from the problem of multiple addictions.

We might never have thought about changing other habits in our lives if we hadn’t cleared the landscape of the first and most detrimental phase one addictions or attachments. These attachments were often associated with our most negative emotions like shame and guilt. Many people carry these addictions into their thirties and forties without ever really facing their own spiritual development. As spiritual aspirants, the initial "clearing away" is the means by which a Higher Power eventually enters our lives. We also come to recognize that recovery wasn’t really possible without that Higher Power. Phase one recovery is a process toward a greater happiness for us and a greater happiness for the others around us.