I’m still struggling to name my higher power. Any suggestions

That was my biggest hurdle at the beginning. Simply put, believing there is something greater than yourself in this life is enough. It doesn’t need to be some supernatural being. Don’t try to force it. You’ll learn what you need to know when you need to know it. Let life happen and be the best version of you that you can be today.

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Allow your god to be the god of your understanding and embrace that you do not understand. This works for me.

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Thank you Taylor. Great advice. I haven’t tried any secular meetings yet.

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This is great :joy:

Well put, Ty. Thanks.

Look up “secular 12 steps” it takes god out of the equation. I still attend AA meetings but I look at it through that lens. It’s helped me so much. The program is about personal growth and sharing that way of life with others who feel just as lost as we all have.

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Call em Oreo.. I never got into the hp thing. I'm a believer but don't push my beliefs on anyone. With that said whatever works for you doesn't work for most. I found out that believing in yourself is a good start.. but oreo is definitely a good start if your looking for names.. and they taste delicious too. But only the double stuffed. Best to you and remember "it's a journey not a destination" -Ralph Emerson

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Please do, they are really great. I went to a bonfire/BBQ Sunday with the We Agnostics group here in Cleveland, it was great. The meetings are refreshing. Honestly I feel like there is MORE accountability when "god" is taken out of the equation. The group is accountable for the group. We are accountable for our happiness a better life is what we get from hard work, not because a god grants us those things. If he was so awesome, would we be alcoholics to begin with? These are just MY thoughts. Not trying to trip anyone up. Do what makes you do what you need to do

This is exactly what I’ve been grappling with! Beyond the simple fact that I’m not a person of faith and I don’t imagine I’ll suddenly be finding God in my mid thirties, it’s the accountability piece that seems off to me. If I just hand everything over to a higher power then am I absolving myself of responsibility? I’m supposed to not only admit powerlessness over alcohol but over everything? Also not trying to upset anyone, it’s just been a confusing part of the program for me.

In admitting I'm powerless over alcohol I've also learned I am powerless of many things. Such as people's actions or reactions, if someone cuts me off on the highway, or if someone doesn't say thank you if i held the door open for them. I just take a step back and review if i personally did anything to cause these events. And my part in it. A good example is that in making amends with my mother her initial reaction wasn't what i expected and i got flustered at first. instead of reacting how i normally would have, thankfully i was able to pause and remind myself that i am powerless in how she responded, to just worry about my end and if I'm doing the next right thing.

Also, the meaning of turning everything over to a higher power, for me, doesn't take away my responsibilities but instead gives me guidance and I am now more self aware and accountable. Hope that made sense, feel free to dm me if you need help with anything! :slight_smile:

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Check out that website I linked you to. TONS of good stuff in there and it breaks so much down. When you read it, it becomes so clear. Alot of people here and at meetings will say things like "you don't have to understand, just do it and you'll get it" which to me sounds condescending and like some sort of brainwashing. Even the chapter in the big book titled We Agnostics had a bit of a condescending overtone in my opinion. But AA works for people, many many people, and that's great. And you CAN be "godless" and still work the program effectively.

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Good Orderly Direction or Love or Nature or the Universe or the Great Unknown

Thanks, Kristen! That’s a great perspective

Totally agree with you and thank you, I will absolutely check out that link and start looking for some secular meetings. I live in a large city so I’m sure there are quite a few.

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The fellowship of sober people keeping each other sober

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SD has one of the oldest secular meetings in the country outside of NYC.

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Consider AA your higher power. Or any 12 step program. After all, they keep people sober. I couldn’t stay sober on my own. So it is a power greater than myself. I have talked to MANY people that considered this (the group conscious) their higher power at first until it came to them.

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God

"Sober She Devils – Secular Recovery for Women in AA" https://sobershedevils.com

Names not important just that there is something higher than yourself that will help you if you ask for it on a daily basis