Get Actionable Help and Resources for the Third Step of AA and NA
As you work through the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery process to achieve sobriety, you will quickly arrive at the Third Step. Step Three states that we, “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.”
This step can feel confusing to some, who express how it overlaps with Steps 1 and Step 2. While it may seem redundant with the first two steps, it’s a critical reinforcement that also sets you up for better success later in the AA program.
Purpose Healing Center almost always recommends including a community-based program like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery as part of post-recovery planning. Leaving the safety of the treatment center without a safety net that easily integrates into everyday life can leave you open to falling into past addiction habits.
For many, AA offers a structured path that will help you continue to stay away from alcohol and other temptations as you continue to restore your well-being.
We have devised a Step 3 AA Worksheet in a free, downloadable format. Keep reading to gain a clearer understanding of this step and to understand the difference between Step 3 and the previous steps. And don’t forget to grab your PDF!
Stick around as well, as our newly released Step 4 AA Worksheet can help with that part of your work with a sponsor as well.
Step Three: A Growing Commitment to the Higher Power (‘Thy Power’)
Step 3 asks you to deepen your commitment to recovery. It demands not only a surrender to the Higher Power but also a personal willingness to let Him control an otherwise unmanageable life.
In Steps 1 and 2, you admitted you had a drinking problem and warmed up to the idea of faith. But Step 3 is an action step, requiring a conscious decision to turn those difficulties over to Him. It goes beyond accepting this Power greater than ourselves. Rather, it acknowledges that you need a Higher Power working to help you change your behavior in a lasting, meaningful way.
The future steps you’ll take in the program will require spiritual growth and accountability; cementing your commitment in Step 3 sets you up for success later. You will need this firm foundation later when you reach some challenging steps, such as taking a fearless moral inventory and making amends with those you might have hurt.
Step 3 AA Worksheet: Free PDF Downloads
“We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.”
These Step 3 worksheets can help you begin to have a better sense of how Steps 1 and 2 are reflections or acknowledgments, while Step 3 helps you focus on active surrender to the Higher Power of your understanding so you can work the next steps of the process.
Page 1 of the worksheet reminds you of the first two steps of the process before digging deeper into the current concept. Spending a few moments looking back is a great refresher and knowledge check before moving on to the next two sheets, which are all about gaining a better understanding of Step 3.
The First Reflections Review Previous Principles
Addiction to alcohol feels like bondage, destroying your life and the lives of people you love. Choosing sobriety – and the decision to turn your life over to God – is a gift you’ve given yourself (even if you don’t know it yet).
The first page of reflections will help you as you look back at the progress you made in steps one and two. The reflections are as follows:
- In what areas of your life have you tried to exert control without success?
- How does it feel to let go of that control?
- How do you personally understand your Higher Power?
- What role has faith played in your recovery so far?
These remind you of how your situation was unmanageable until you admitted you needed the guidance and care of God to support your healing journey. You began to see how self-will affected not only your sanity but every facet of life.
The Next Two Pages Begin Step 3 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Process
With the knowledge of your Higher Power, you have the freedom to work healing your alcohol addiction at His pace. You have put God in control and admit you must rely on His Power. The questions you will ask yourself on these worksheets are the following:
- What actions can you take today to show your commitment to Step 3?
- How will turning your will over to your Higher Power change your approach to recovery?
- What fears or reservations do you have about taking this step?
- How can you seek guidance from your Higher Power when you face challenges?
- What trusted people or mentors can help you strengthen your faith?
- What practices (prayer, meditation, etc.) can you use to connect with your Higher Power?
Gaining a deeper understanding of God’s control over the whole ‘show’ that is your life provides peace of mind as you continue to recover.
What About People Who Don’t Believe in God?
If you are unwilling to change or surrender your life to God, the other steps of the program will not work. Why do some people struggle with this? We have seen this in people who have had religious trauma, agnostics, or atheists.
In these cases, in-person therapies or alternative community groups can be a better option than Alcoholics Anonymous or AA meetings alone.
How the Third Step Compares to Steps One and Two
How does the third step relate to the previous ones? Let’s look closer at how Step 3 can overlap with 1 and 2 – and why there’s really a difference:
The First Step: Admission That Doing Things Our Own Way Had Created a Mess
Step One is the beginning of a new path to a sober life. It admits powerlessness over alcohol and recognizes the limitations of one’s own self in healing. This recognition is all that’s required to complete Step 1, while Step 3 marks the beginning of taking action.
The Second Step: Acceptance of God as We Understood Him
Step 2 introduces the idea of God as we understood Him, being the Higher Power who will direct and bear witness to our personal transformation back to sobriety. It opens you up to the possibility of a better life with His help.
Like the First Step, completing Step One is recognition. In this case, it means knowing that God is in complete control.
The Alcoholics Anonymous Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is central to the AA recovery program. Its words are often spoken at meetings; you can also find it in the AA Big Book.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
The prayer suits most religious beliefs without regard to what denomination or faith you identify with. There’s no judgment or no “right” or “wrong” God in AA, it’s acknowledged that the Higher Power can take a hundred forms.
The Step 3 Prayer is another important form of reflection and spiritual attunement, is it so crucial (and interesting!) that we have devoted guide to the Third Step Prayer all on its own.
Not Convinced AA Is for You?
Some people decide that AA alone is not enough for their addiction. They might be right.
AA’s Big Book reports that about 50% of those who attend AA meetings recover from addiction and stay clean and sober. That number is encouraging and AA has done much to improve society and the world at large with their effective program.
But what about those whose struggles are deeply rooted and come from trauma or mental health disorders? We help those who have mental or behavioral disorders with evidence-based treatment.
Purpose Healing Center offers numerous therapies that can help people recover from addiction:
- Individual and group counseling
- Customized treatment plans
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Medical detoxification
- Guide you through some new coping strategies
- Inpatient or outpatient treatment centers
The decision to turn your life around is incredible. If you have tried AA but still need some extra support, please feel free to call us. Our treatment center staff has the knowledge to help turn lives around. With our help, you can be on the way to a clean, sober rest of your life.
We highly recommend community programs after leaving treatment, including AA, NA, and SMART Recovery. You can decide which best suits your self-care needs.
Call Purpose to Get Recovery Support for Alcohol Use Disorders
Seeking treatment saves lives. If you need any questions answered, need our assistance understanding what your insurance provider will cover, or just feel ready to set aside your fear and come to our treatment center for help, we are here.
Call our admissions team today – we can provide the support you need as soon as tomorrow.
480-579-3319