day@atime wrote: Hat doffed CW. The polar opposite of what the 12 Steps are saying encapsulated superbly & without the dreaded G or HP reference. Really not understanding those who dont want to embrace the Steps or even attend a meeting having an opinion on changing the wording for those who do go. Guess it must be that there is no power greater than oneself.
A question for you Dan, and it's curiousity but to a athiest doesn't the g word also give you the dreads ?
Wow CW!!
I just now came accross this thread and thank you for sharing these "oposite" steps. Sadly relate to many of them, ..on the other hand - greatful i aknowledge and admit it.
Am not a 12 stepper. Never fully got into them. I remember on my meetings spending million seconds & minutes reading steps & traditions out (seemed to sit opposite where they used to be hung up on the wall)...missed many shares due to the same..quietly tried to work every word out. Never truly came through to me. Maybe i just wasn't ready?
The only time i got into the B&B story is then i start reading the Big book. Only 3 chapters done. It's hidden in the draw now :-/
Not sure what I'm trying to say. Maybe 12 steps recovery helps many people but only to those who does listen and read properly (by that i mean read into words). I never did..always stuck to the step 1. ..just can't admit i am an addict...really hope i will one day.
Strange this..i came accross a little opinion today about the programme. Didn't really get many answers but in my own view they're changing people...good on them, as long as new found life is on the positive road. That's all this journey is about. One day at a time, wach and every one of us trying to get better. Own approach or proven one, we are all fighting the same fight - to understand ourselves and our behaviours better and with the power of "*******" start making changes to help ourselves and reach for better life.
Only my thoughts...thanks for sharing again..made this heart tick to the right beat again ☺
S x
Hi,
For the avoidance of doubt I didn't write The Twelve Steps to Insanity, I downloaded it. As far as I know, it's been around for most of this century.
I think it's brilliant precisely because it explains the Twelve Steps of Recovery by turning them upside down. And the Twelve Steps of Recovery are for addicts and codependents alike. I can relate to it, laugh at myself for imaging that I have the power to fix my husband or anyone else and then see what I really need to be aiming for.
What is a HP? The exact nature of the HP is for each person to work out for himself or herself, anything from a biblical God, Science, Nature, the meeting room, a sponsor, an old tree. It just needs to be external and higher and more powerful than the addict. The nature of the HP can change over time as working the Steps brings change. But the HP is a device for moving away from self and ego and finding an external control (internal controls aren't working).
Can the HP be bypassed? Not really. Dan has previously posted an alternative parody that has also been around a long time, The Twelve Steps made Simple, reproduced in the post below. Like the original, it's based upon accepting that the HP can do what the ego/self can't.
Alternative to the Fellowships? Other methods of addressing addiction might be useful but since AA was founded, members of the Fellowships have found that their spiritual program (when worked and followed) was the one that kept them sober. Which is why Bill Wilson and others codified it.
I'm sticking with the Fellowships, seems safer. But that's limited to me. And it's not a conclusion that I reached on Day One.
BW,
CW
--Author Unknown
The simpler version do actually make sense to me. Thanks for sharing
I dont really understand all this. Am I missing something?
Its whatever works for each individual. If the twelve steps help someone focus then I dont feel the need to question them. Im not religious but Ive read them and they give a strong basis for a GA meeting.
Im not having a go at anybody. I just dont see the need to turn them around with sarcasm, polar opposites or to make a point. We know that active gamblers manipulate and do the opposite of what is needed for a proper recovery. I dont see the point in listing 12 alternative points/angles and making a play on the twelve steps program.
Going to GA is a massive step in recovery. Im not ruling it out but found that self exclusion and close monitoring of my finances was working for me.
I have been to GA meetings in the past. I wasnt really ready to stop and did find them a bit heavy and overwhelming. However that was down to me as I was just playing at it. I wasnt really ready to stop and thought my gambling was lightweight and I really shouldnt have been there. I was a bit shy and thought I could handle it with willpower. I had the same problem as everyone else there but I couldnt cope with facing it properly.
I think what they do is honourable and its only there to help people with a gambling addiction.
I know Im probably missing something here but cant we all just harmoniously agree that anything that helps is a good thing.
Best wishes to everyone on the forum
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