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SponsoredAA, or Alcoholics Anonymous, has an 80+ year history of helping people struggling with alcohol take back control of their lives from addiction. The 12 Step recovery program was developed out of the AA philosophy.
While the overall purpose and goal of AA is to help individuals live sober lives, each of the 12 Steps addresses an essential aspect of recovery. Step 2 specifically deals with incorporating a Higher Power into your daily reality. The idea of a Higher Power may turn many people off, but the Step 2 AA meaning encompasses so much more than a “religious principle.”
Ultimately, Step 2 in AA marks the end of the addiction mindset and the beginning of hope in the recovery process.
For more information on 12 Step recovery programs, call our toll-free helpline at
800-948-8417
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The Purpose of Step 2
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
Step 1 of the 12 Step approach requires admitting how unmanageable drinking has become. Confronting denial and seeing addiction for what it is becomes essential to moving forward in recovery.
Once you’ve made this admission, the next step helps you build a foundation on which the recovery process stands. In essence, Step 2 in AA builds hope in recovery so you can change your life for the better.
Meaning of AA Step 2 – A Three-Part Approach
1. Having Faith in the Recovery Process
The meaning of Step 2 in AA is that a Higher Power has as much to do with developing faith in your power to change as it does with believing in a Higher Power. In this respect, a Higher Power can be anything that inspires you to maintain sobriety. This can be God, your children, the Universe or a need to regain your self-respect.
It’s this belief in a Higher Power that paves the way for faith and hope to become driving forces in your everyday life.
2. Believing in Something Greater than Self
The notion of a Higher Power not only opens the door to faith but also helps a person realize that he or she doesn’t have to be the “hero” in their recovery process. Reaching out for help and guidance is essential to moving past the addiction mindset and unlearning addiction-based beliefs.
Ultimately, believing in something greater than or outside of yourself becomes a necessary step for growth and change to happen.
Understanding Why Alcoholics Must Accept Their Powerlessness in AA
If you have an alcohol use disorder (AUD), you’re not alone. In 2023, 28.9 million people or 1 in 10, had AUD in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In that same year, only 40.1% sought treatment. That’s a missed opportunity because treatment resources from groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are extremely effective. Learn more about AA, and how its famous 12 Steps—especially Step 1—can set you on the path to recovery. In this article: What Is Alcoholics Anonymous? What are the 12 Steps of AA? Step 1 of AA: Why It…
3. Confronting Addiction’s Insanity
More often than not, the things that inspire a person are drawn from what’s good and right in their life. Likewise, the inspiration that comes from relying on a Higher Power also draws from the very best part of who you are.
This level of inspiration helps a person through the rough patches, as confronting the effects of addiction in their life is often discouraging and sometimes heartbreaking. Over time, having a solid understanding and connection to a Higher Power provides you with the strength needed to let change happen.
If you need help finding a 12 Step recovery program, we can help. Call our helpline at
800-948-8417
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to speak with one of our addiction counselors.