STEP ZERO

If you came in touch with A.A. the way we did, you really want what we have right away. It is enough for now, that you don't want what you have, and are ready to go to any lengths to get rid of it!

A.A. is a program of attraction, but many come to A.A. not because of attraction, but because they are repelled from the alcoholic life they already have.

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps. [Big Book, page 58, line 16]

1. That you want to be sober.
2. You must take these steps until they take you.

After all, it was agreed at the beginning that we would go to any length for victory over alcohol to find a spiritual experience. (BB, page 78 &79)

It is not our purpose to convince you to lay off alcohol. If your experience with alcohol hasn't yet taught what you need to learn, maybe you haven't graduated for A.A. Before you head for the pub, reconsider why you came in touch with us. May be your reasons are valid. Only you know if you want what alcohol has to offer you and what we have.

If still in doubt then ask the following questions;

1. Are you unable to drink moderately?
2. Have other methods of stopping failed?
3. Can you stop for loved ones or the warning from a doctor?
4. Do you believe that your body is as abnormal as your mind?
5. Are you restless, irritable, and discontented?
6. Do you become remorseful after a spree?
7. Do you believe you have lost the power to choose whether you will drink or not?
8. Do you think you can stop on a non-spiritual basis?

Unlike the booze, A.A. is not an all-or-nothing proposition-at least. You can see if the coercing forces (such as a boss, judge, nagging wife, doctor, etc.) that propelled you into A.A. are not yet appeased. Maybe you should hang out with us a little longer until they shape up.

30 days of abstinence may lead you to think that you just may not have a problem with alcohol, but if you experience physical or mental pain without alcohol, give yourself a chance. Be honest. Persist in abstinence until the pain is gone. Then you will be in a position of neutrality from which you can choose with clarity and objectivity. As a last resort, you may feel compelled to do more research by drinking. But, please come back before your life is totally destroyed or you die.

Most people coming to A.A. have reservations as to whether they should adopt our program of recovery. There are some myths we often hear that keeps alcoholics away:

1. I would rather not associate with a bunch of admitted alcoholics who have done some pretty sordid things, but I am a cut above.
2. I may not be alcoholic. I didn't drink as much as you AA’s did, and I have never been in jail. I do not have health, financial, legal, and or family problems.
3. My problems are with my environment (job, home, health, misfortune, etc.). Once these externals are fixed, I'll be fixed, too.
4. I need to find out why I drank before I do all that step stuff.
5. I am not prepared to shed all my self esteem by accepting the humiliation of admitting I am alcoholic. To the contrary, I need education and support, which will bring me to believe in myself again.
6. A.A. just might be a religious cult. All this God stuff is intrusive, ineffective, irrational and irrelevant.

While there may appear to be a superficial shred of truth to these statements, you will find that they are basically irrelevant and not factual. Hanging onto such reservations can kill you, if you are alcoholic. Why don't you let the odds be in your favor? Stay off the sauce; put your reservations on the back burner. And give yourself a chance to experience sobriety. We do not know of a single instance in which taking the steps of A.A. has ever injured anyone! If the results are not to your liking, you can always try something.

If you are one of the fortunate ones, you don't need to be convinced to stop drinking. You just want to know how. We'll show you that there's more to Quitting Drinking.

Just what are you willing to do?

1. Postpone your next drink of alcohol for the time remaining today?
2. Attend at least one A.A. meeting each day for few months?
3. Discontinue use of all other mind-altering substances (besides alcohol) unless at least one physician who is aware that you are trying to stay sober and who encourages you to do so prescribe them?
4. Seek out members of A.A. who seem to have good sobriety, and ask them daily for help in staying sober?
5. Study the Big Book and the 12 & 12 of A.A. each day, and take the steps under direction?
6. Set aside the natural reservations you have about following A.A. guidance.

Physical sobriety is not that simple. But, seeing the promises of sobriety materialize in your life, and discovering true peace within yourself call for taking the steps. Are you ready now?
Each of steps 1 through 9 builds upon the one(s) before, so take them in order-that is, 1, 2, 3, etc. Steps 10 through 12 should each be taken from the first day we enter AA and every day thereafter. Step 10 helps us to stop exercising our defects of character, thus preventing actions for which we might then have to make further amends. Step 11 guides us toward habitual prayer for God's direction. Step 12 inspires us to act in resonance with the principles of AA recovery and toward usefulness to others instead of being mired in self. Once we have taken ALL the steps, the primary goal of our sober journey becomes a reality and awakens you to spirituality.

We don't just leap into sublime sobriety. We get there one day and one step at a time. And, just as there is always someone on the step above you to give you a hand, it is usually a good idea for you to pull one or two others up to your current step. They can then give you a boost to your next step.
One should plan on being well into the ninth step during first year.
Steps 10 through 12 daily will keep you occupied for the rest of your days.
"How long will it take to be sober?”
It all depends on you but remember there is no cure of this disease, you will be in recovery all your life and there is no graduation from this program. The aim of the program is to go beyond sobriety in becoming a better human.

So Be it.