Observations
We are really fortunate that in most countries, there are many worthwhile Non-Government Organizations that provide support and a place to seek help if anyone is wanting it. Most have adopted the twelve step program originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous — or some modified version of it.
Step 1: Honesty
Admit that you, of yourself are powerless to overcome your addictions and your life has become unmanageable.
Step 2: Hope
Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
Step 3: Trust in God
Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ.
Step 4: Truth
Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
Step 5 Confession
Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper Priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.
Step 6: Change of Heart
Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
Step 7: Humility
Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your short comings.
Step 8: Seek Forgiveness
Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.
Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation
Wherever possible make direct restitution to all people you have harmed.
Step 10: Daily Accountability
Continue to take personal inventory and when you are wrong promptly admit it.
Step 11: Personal Revelation
Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and have the power to carry it out.
Step 12: Service
Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.
The success rate of these programs are low, and the numbers attending these classes few, in comparison to the staggering number of addicts. So as expected, the problem of addictions still continues to exist and grow.
While these are the steps addicts, and those with other undesirable personal habits go through, they may not necessarily go through them at the same rate or proceed in a chronological order outlined in the manual. Some of the attendees at the meeting may be present because they were given an ultimatum by their spouse or their employer. Their incentive will be different from someone who has faced a life changing experience because of their addiction and is therefore personally desirous to become better.
Every attendee at the meeting has a special history, a different motivation and a particular underlying cause to their problem which neither you nor they fully understand. They may slip and move backwards as often as they move forward. They may find themselves progressing very well and then experience an unexpected setback that may leave them feeling like they have failed and are unable to carry-on. Others may skip steps altogether thinking they have that part under control. None of these realities should become a stumbling block because the recovery process is really just that — a recovery process.
We should also remember:
1/ We learn best through trial and error.
2/ We reach goals that are reasonably set.
3/ Few people who change hard things are successful the first time.
4/ Trial and error is a harder, less efficient and very expensive way to learn.
5/ Changing always costs more than you thought.
6/ Sheer willpower is not enough.
7/ We cannot substitute one bad behaviour for another to improve.
8/ The path to change is seldom straight.
9/ A lapse is not permanent unless we want it to be.
10/ Good ideas always involve hard work.
– Doug Garrett