At first many of us thought that Step One required no action – we simply surrendered and took Step Two. The First Step, however, requires us to take action!
The way we live, from the first day we stay clean, proves how far we have put the First Step into practice. If we truly believe we are powerless over our addiction, we will not choose to be where there are drugs. Continuing to live with or associate with drug addicts who drink may indicate a reservation about the program. If we believe deep down that First Step represents us, we will make sure our home is clean of drugs and paraphernalia.
In time, apart from the basics, we will put the First Step in other areas of our lives. We will learn to experience our emotions instead of trying to control them. We will stop being guided only by ourselves in recovery; we will no longer be our own advocate. More and more we will seek spiritual rewards from a Power greater than ourselves, rather than trying to fill our emptiness with something else.
Surrendering is only the beginning. After surrendering, we then need to learn to live with the peace we have found.
