Alcoholics Anonymous has multiple principles, just as it has multiple steps. These principles serve as the guiding force on the journey to recovery, emphasizing community, acceptance, and personal growth, fostering a journey of spiritual and emotional healing.
Hope
In the twelve steps of AA, hope is the belief that you can overcome any addiction that has a hold on your life. This step comes naturally for those who have already learned to rely on a higher power for help, but even those who don’t are able to find hope in their own version of that higher power. Hope acknowledges that there may be bad days, but there is a higher power that can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is essential in the recovery process, which is why there are two steps that cover forgiveness in the AA Big Book. First, we forgive those who have wronged us. Second, we forgive ourselves. We release ourselves from the bitterness that others have caused us or that we may have caused ourselves through our actions towards others. This cultivates a sense of inner peace and reconciliation.
Acceptance
Acceptance is knowing that it’s ok to make mistakes. Acceptance is not passive, but is an active
choice to confront the truth of one’s situation and move toward sobriety. This means we can accept the reality of the situation with no denial or resistance, letting go of past regrets and living in the present moment. Through acceptance, AA members find liberation from addiction and move toward healing.
Humility
Humility comes from knowing our strengths and weaknesses. It is not about self-deprecation but the recognition of our limitations and how we can learn from others. This allows us to haveopenness to new perspectives and understand the importance of support and guidance.
Self-Awareness
One of the main philosophies of AA is being aware that we are powerless against alcohol. This is a pivotal step on the road to recovery. This allows the individual to confront the reality of their situation, which brings self-awareness and accountability and opens the door for sobriety to take place. Sobriety, in turn, enables people to develop healthy habits and hobbies to replace alcohol.
Self-Focus
It’s important for us as AA members to focus on ourselves and not get consumed in other people’s lives and issues in a way that distracts us from our own progress. While this does not mean being self-centered, as AA is a community of people who mutually support each other, it is important not to get lost in what the next person is going through. This prevents us from intentionally or unintentionally being distracted from the work we need to do to improve.
Coping Strategies
Many coping strategies used in alcohol addiction treatment can reduce problems in the short term but create more problems in the long term. These include avoidance, alcohol consumption, denial, isolation, self-medication, escapism, and risky behavior such as driving under the influence, unprotected sex, and instigating confrontations with others. These can put people at risk of further legal, financial, and personal consequences.
AA helps us develop healthier methods of coping. These coping strategies include:
- Avoiding triggers
- Seeking support (building a network of friends, peers, and support groups)
- Healthy distractions (engaging in healthier activities such as exercising, hobbies, and creative outlets)
- Stress management (learning healthy stress relief ways such as meditation and deep breathing)
- Therapy (individual or group)
- Lifestyle changes (including healthy sleep habits and eating a balanced diet)
AA encourages healthier methods of coping while assisting with helping us recognize unhealthy ways of coping. Perhaps most importantly, AA encouragespracticing these skills, both in and out of AA meetings.
