Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is founded on the principle of handing over your life and will to a higher power. The idea is that this higher power will relieve you of the burden of alcoholism, letting you focus on living life sober. Early sobriety is hard enough as it is, but it can be much more difficult if the prospect of drinking hasn't left your mind completely.
For a lot of people, the concept of a higher power is easily represented by their understanding of God. A story you'll often come across in AA meetings is that a person used to believe in God and went to church often, but this changed as the person developed a serious drinking problem. When the person finally quits drinking, they turn once again to the church and to God. And this works for a lot of people.
For others, the question of a higher power isn't so simple. Many people either do not believe in God or are unsure if God exists, making the 12 step program and its dependence on a higher power very difficult for these people. I know this to be true because I was one of these people.
Personally, the question of a higher power gave me a lot of trouble when I first began attending AA meetings. I believed in the possibility of God but deep down I could not fully accept this idea, which made the idea of turning my life and will over to my higher power very difficult. For almost six months, I continued to struggle with this problem and my early sobriety was very hard.
However, after much reflection and thinking, I finally came up with an idea of a higher power that I could fully accept. I called my concept of a higher power "the interconnectedness of the human spirit." For me, this refers to our abilities to inspire and connect with each other.
When I think of this interconnectedness, I often think of music. There are a lot of songs that simply resonate with me, so much so that I can get chills going down the back of my neck when I hear them. Something about the song simply connects with a part of me, deep down. I may have never met the songwriter, but he or she was able to create a piece of music that really connected with me. That's what I mean when I mention the interconnectedness of the human spirit.
This idea of a higher power works for me, and my hope is that by sharing this idea of a higher power with you here, I can hopefully help other people who face a similar struggle with the idea of a higher power.
For a lot of people, the concept of a higher power is easily represented by their understanding of God. A story you'll often come across in AA meetings is that a person used to believe in God and went to church often, but this changed as the person developed a serious drinking problem. When the person finally quits drinking, they turn once again to the church and to God. And this works for a lot of people.
For others, the question of a higher power isn't so simple. Many people either do not believe in God or are unsure if God exists, making the 12 step program and its dependence on a higher power very difficult for these people. I know this to be true because I was one of these people.
Personally, the question of a higher power gave me a lot of trouble when I first began attending AA meetings. I believed in the possibility of God but deep down I could not fully accept this idea, which made the idea of turning my life and will over to my higher power very difficult. For almost six months, I continued to struggle with this problem and my early sobriety was very hard.
However, after much reflection and thinking, I finally came up with an idea of a higher power that I could fully accept. I called my concept of a higher power "the interconnectedness of the human spirit." For me, this refers to our abilities to inspire and connect with each other.
When I think of this interconnectedness, I often think of music. There are a lot of songs that simply resonate with me, so much so that I can get chills going down the back of my neck when I hear them. Something about the song simply connects with a part of me, deep down. I may have never met the songwriter, but he or she was able to create a piece of music that really connected with me. That's what I mean when I mention the interconnectedness of the human spirit.
This idea of a higher power works for me, and my hope is that by sharing this idea of a higher power with you here, I can hopefully help other people who face a similar struggle with the idea of a higher power.
About the Author:
Some people may tell you that it's not possible, but I am living proof that it is possible to get sober without AA. I have been sober for three years without going to AA meetings, and I want to help you if you share the same doubts. Learn more about the alternatives to AA here.
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