Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

STEP THREE

That is just where the remaining Steps of the A.A. program
come in. Nothing short of continuous action upon these as
a way of life can bring the much-desired result.

Then it is explained that other Steps of the A.A. pro-
gram can be practiced with success only when Step Three
is given a determined and persistent trial. This statement
may surprise newcomers who have experienced noth-
ing but constant deflation and a growing conviction that
human will is of no value whatever. They have become
persuaded, and rightly so, that many problems besides
alcohol will not yield to a headlong assault powered by
the individual alone. But now it appears that there are cer-
tain things which only the individual can do. All by him-
self, and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs
to develop the quality of willingness. When he acquires
willingness, he is the only one who can make the decision
to exert himself. Trying to do this is an act of his own will.
All of the Twelve Steps require sustained and personal
exertion to conform to their principles and so, we trust,
to God's will.

It is when we try to make our will conform with God's
that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most
wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the mis-
use of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems
with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with
God's intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is
the purpose of A.A.'s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens
the door.

Once we have come into agreement with these ideas, it is
really easy to begin the practice of Step Three. In all times