How do You Turn Your Will Over-Exploring Step 3

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How do You Turn Your Will Over-Exploring Step 3

Step 3 of the 12-step program can seem a little overwhelming especially, if you don’t agree with the concept of a Higher Power. Even if you don’t agree or do not fully understand the whole Higher Power thing, does not mean that you can’t apply this step and get a lot out of it.

Step 3 says, “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.” The key element to this step is surrender to something outside of you and your addiction. This step is not about agreeing to go to church every Sunday or even being religious. This step is about turning the will to use drugs and alcohol over to God-as you understand him, even if you don’t understand him.

This step is about giving up control. For too long, you tried to control your drinking and drugging. More often than not, unsuccessfully. You may have had thoughts like these when you were trying to control your addiction:

  • No drinking in the morning
  • Beer instead of hard liquor
  • Only during times of celebration
  • This and not that

Reflect on how control has worked in the past before. Are there really times when you were indeed able to control your use? When you reflect on your use, you may find that lack of control happened far more often than self control. If this is the case, then there is a good chance that you didn’t have control at all, the substances did.

If you do not believe in God or if you don’t fully understand the 12-step programs use of the word God, that is perfectly okay. This step is talking about God, as you understand him. You do not have to understand or be perfect in order to relinquish your will. Your will would rather use alcohol and drugs. Now that you are learning about recovery, your will should change. Until then, surrender. Go to meetings. Reach out to sober people. Help the newcomer once you have a foundation. This is the essence of giving your will over to something bigger than you and the addiction.

Help is just a phone call away. At The Kimberly Center, we care about you and your recovery. Call us now at 855-4-KCENTER. We are committed to helping you  stop the cycle of addiction with education and treatment. At the Kimberly Center, you are in safe hands.

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