The Alternative Twelve Steps: A Secular Guide to Recovery Book

1. Admit we are powerless over other people, random events, and our own persistent negative behaviors, and that when we forget this, our lives become unmanageable.
2. Come to believe that spiritual resources can provide power for our restoration and healing.
3. Make a decision to be open to spiritual energy as we take deliberate action for change in our lives.
4. Search honestly and deeply within ourselves to know the exact nature of our actions, thoughts, and emotions.
5. Talk to another person about our exact nature.
6. Be entirely ready to acknowledge our abiding strength and release our personal shortcomings.
7. Work honestly, humbly, and courageously to develop our assets and to release our personal shortcomings.
8. List all people we have harmed, including ourselves, and be willing to make amends to them all. Be willing to forgive those who have harmed us.
9. Whenever possible, carry out unconditional amends to those we have hurt, including ourselves, except when to do so would cause harm.
10. Continue to monitor ourselves, to acknowledge our successes and quickly correct our lapses and errors.
11. Increasingly engage spiritual energy and awareness to continue to grow in abiding strength and wisdom and in the enjoyment of life.
12. Practice the principles of these Steps in all our affairs and carry the 12 Step message to others.