After: The Promises

The lives of people who work a 12-step programme always improve.

The original 12-step programme even goes so far as to make promises as to how your life will improve.  These promises have been adopted by all 12-step programmes:


The Promises of All 12-Step Programmes

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.

  • We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness,
  • We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it,
  • We will comprehend the word serenity, and we will know peace.
  • No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
  • That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
  • We will lose interest in selfish things and gain insight into our fellows.
  • Self-seeking will slip away.
  • Our whole attitude and outlook will change.
  • Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.
  • We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
  • We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us--sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.....

Copyright © A.A. World Services, Inc. -- reproduced with permission
Extract from Page 83 of "
Alcoholics Anonymous (Chapter 6)"