AL-ANON'S FOUR PRIMARY IDEAS

Al-Anon's Twelve Steps suggest acceptance of four primary ideas, included in the 2002-2004 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/7), page 10:

1. We Are Powerless Over the Problem of Alcoholism. When we can honestly accept this truth, it brings us a feeling of release and hope. We can now turn our full attention to bringing our own lives into order. We can go forward to spiritual, to the comfort and peace to be gained from the entire program.

2. We Can Turn Our Lives Over to a Power Greater Than Ourselves. Now that our well -meant aid to the alcoholic has ended in failure and our own lives have become unmanageable, we realize we cannot deal with our problem objectively, perhaps not even sanely.

In Al-Anon we find a Power greater than ourselves which can direct our lives into quiet, useful channels. At first this power may seem to be the group, but as we grow in knowledge and spiritual understanding, many of us call it God, as we understood Him.

3. We Need to Change Both Our Attitude and Our Actions. As we become willing to admit our defects, we begin to see how much of our thinking is distorted. We realize how unwise some of our actions have been, how un-loving many of our attitudes. We try to recognize and correct these faults.

4. We Keep Al-Anon's Gifts by Sharing Them with Others. This sharing makes Al-Anon the vital, forward-reaching fellowship it is. Our great obligation is to those still in need. Leading another person from despair to hope and love brings comfort to both the giver and receiver,