{"id":244133,"date":"2025-10-20T14:40:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T21:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marijuana-anonymous.org\/?p=244133"},"modified":"2025-10-21T10:55:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T17:55:58","slug":"understanding-the-twelve-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marijuana-anonymous.org\/reading\/understanding-the-twelve-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"An Understanding of The Twelve Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We were once asked what was meant by the reference to \u201cthese principles\u201d as they are mentioned in our Twelfth Step. After discussing this question, it seemed to us that \u201cThese Principles\u201d were something suggested or arrived at by working the Steps. The Steps were the tools to be used to discover the \u201cPrinciples\u201d. Of course this is a program of action and a personal thing, an individual program, so each person will probably find their own principles for themselves. After much meditation, we have discovered the following principles have greatly helped us to understand and practice our program. When all these principles are given meaning and purpose through LOVE \u2013 LOVE OF GOD, OF OUR FELLOWS, AND RESPECT FOR OURSELVES, then they truly become the heart of our program of MA. With a deep sense of gratitude and the help of a Power greater than ourselves, we can live in emotional and physical sobriety with serenity and comfort one day at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. In working the 1st Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cadmitted we were powerless over marijuana, that our lives had become unmanageable,\u201d we had at last found the courage to face the truth and tell it; we were practicing the principle of HONESTY.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. In working the 2nd Step<\/strong>, when we \u201ccame to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,\u201d we were practicing the principle of HOPE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. In working the 3rd Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cmade a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood God,\u201d we were practicing the principle of FAITH<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. In working the 4th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cmade a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves,\u201d we were practicing the principle of COURAGE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. In working the 5th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cadmitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs,\u201d we were practicing the principle of INTEGRITY<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. In working the 6th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cwere entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character,\u201d we were practicing the principle of WILLINGNESS<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. In working the 7th Step,<\/strong> when we \u201chumbly asked God to remove our shortcomings,\u201d we were practicing the principle of HUMILITY<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. In working the 8th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cmade a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all,\u201d we were practicing the principles of LOVE<\/strong> and FORGIVENESS<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. In working the 9th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201cmade direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others,\u201d we were practicing the principle of JUSTICE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. In working the 10th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201ccontinued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it,\u201d we were practicing the principle of PERSEVERANCE<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. In working the 11th Step<\/strong>, when we \u201csought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God\u2019s will for us and the power to carry that out,\u201d we were practicing the principle of SPIRITUAL AWARENESS<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. In working the 12th Step<\/strong>, when \u201chaving had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to marijuana addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs,\u201d we were practicing the principle of SERVICE.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    Conference-approved May 1992, reprinted with permission of MA World Services.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n