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Deepen Your Capacity to Live Free from Addiction—and from Self and Selfishness
"Twelve Step recovery is much more than a way to escape the clutches of addictive behaviors. Twelve Step recovery is about freeing yourself from playing God, and since almost everyone is addicted to this game, Twelve Step recovery is something from which everyone can benefit."
—from the Introduction
In this hope-filled approach to spiritual and personal growth, the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are uniquely interpreted to speak to everyone seeking a freer and more God-centered life. This special rendering makes them relevant to those suffering from specific addictions—alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, sex, shopping—as well as the general addictions we wrestle with daily, such as anger, greed, and selfishness.
Rami Shapiro describes his personal experience working the Twelve Steps as adapted by Overeaters Anonymous and shares anecdotes from many people working the Steps in a variety of settings. Drawing on the insights and practices of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, and Islam, he offers supplementary practices from different religious traditions to help you move more deeply into the universal spirituality of the Twelve Step system.
"Full of wisdom, expanding and deepening Twelve Step insight with the author's wide knowledge of world spiritual traditions.&rdquo
—Thomas Bien, author, Mindful Recovery, Finding the Center Within and Mindful Therapy
"Immensely readable, charming, and profound.… Accessible and useful to everyone, not just addicts. Open this book armed with a notebook, pen and highlighter. You will return to Rami's wise words over and over again.&rdquo
—Terry Taylor, author, A Spirituality for Brokenness: Discovering Your Deepest Self in Difficult Times
“An important contribution to the literature on the Twelve Steps. Creatively adapts methods from different religious traditions to make the practice of the Twelve Steps even richer.&rdquo
—Martine Batchelor, author, Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits
Foreword v
Introduction: Addiction, Spirituality, and the Process of Uncovery ix
A Note on Anonymity xxv
Chapter One: The Gift of Powerlessness 1
Chapter Two: The Hope of Restoration 25
Chapter Three: Deciding to Be Free 39
Chapter Four: Searching the Ego 55
Chapter Five: Confessing Our Wrongs 73
Chapter Six: Defect Removal 91
Chapter Seven: Asking for Freedom 99
Chapter Eight: Naming the Harmed 111
Chapter Nine: Making Amends 125
Chapter Ten: Attending to the Moment 139
Chapter Eleven: Conscious Contact with God 149
Chapter Twelve: Carrying the Message 167
Chapter Thirteen: First Step, Last Step 183
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 189
Notes 190
Suggestions for Further Reading 194
Index of Practices 200