Step 12 – apply, rinse, repeat
- Marvello V
- Dec 27, 2020
- 2 min read
Step 12
Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.
“Recovery through the first eleven steps teaches us to surrender that addictive will and bring it into line with God’s will, which yields freedom from captivity. …Practicing these principles involves the continual application of all twelve steps to our life circumstances.”
Project HEAL Christ-Centered Recovery Lessons, pp. 50 and 51.
If you’ve done the work of the first eleven steps then you’re ready to live out the last step. The twelfth step contains the actions of affirm, carry, and practice. It’s worth looking at each of these actions in a little more depth.
Affirm
This is not just an affirmation of our spiritual experience, in which God helped us become and stay sober. This is also an affirmation of our story of healing, of learning how to live with new ways to cope with life. We find ourselves with a greater sense of peace within ourselves, a deeper connection with others and their own struggles. Overall, we have discovered a better way to deal with life by letting go of what’s kept us trapped in our addictions for way too long.
Carry
Through our sobriety story we carry a message of hope for others to latch onto. It’s not just us sharing our story at a recovery group. It’s also living our sober life every day so those closest to us see how it’s done.
As co-lead of a Sacramento recovery group, I sometimes remind attendees that our sobriety is meant to help someone in our circle of influence. It could be our kids, our relatives, friends, and loved ones. At some point along your sobriety it will stand out to someone that you’re not drinking or using drugs to cope with or enjoy life. Other people’s observations of your sober behavior may spark conversations that will help or inspire them to do the same.
Practice
One of the definitions of practice is ‘to perform or do habitually’; or easily remembered as 'apply, rinse, repeat'. I personally refer to my sobriety as a form of practice. In other words, every day is an opportunity to get better at being sober. It never ends. The practice continues because there is so much more to learn. There is still so much more to purge from our past that needs healing.
To me, the 12 Steps of recovery are a path toward self-mastery. When you master yourself, you learn you can overcome anything. You begin to recognize your God-given potential, abilities, and skills and you put them to work for you. You stop hurting yourself which eventually leads you to helping others. The path of self-mastery is one in which all of us should strive for. So your exposure to the 12 Steps puts you in a unique position to learn about your humanity and the humanity of others in a much deeper way. The steps are a guide to what it really means to live life on life’s terms.
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