12 Steps to Freedom: An Interpretation
1. We admitted we were controlled by our Conditioned Mind Patterns and became aware of how they caused our behavior and reactions to be self-centered.
2. Came to understand that cooperation with Universal Energy will allow us to be in harmony with life.
3. Made a decision to practice aligning our will and our lives to be in harmony with the Divine Purpose so our heart stays open and our behavior is of Universal Love instead of self-centeredness.
4. Made a searching inventory of the self-centered behavior that kept us in bondage and isolated from our own innate goodness.
5. Identified the exact nature of our wrongs and the associated behavior that held us in our self-created bondage and blocked us from reaching the full potential of our Creative Energy.
6. Were entirely ready to cooperate with Universal Energy so our behavior becomes conducive to what is necessary to be in harmony with life.
7. Humbly learn to cooperate with Universal Energy so our reactions to what happens in life are derived from love instead of a self-centered perspective.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed due to our self-centered behavior and became willing to be an example of Universal Love and to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, but only with the intention that it would benefit them and not serve our own satisfaction.
10. Continued to learn and deepen our spiritual insight by being mindful of each moment and how we react to situations as they occur in our life.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our consciousness of Universal Love so knowledge becomes wisdom and our actions make us an example of that love in our relationships with all beings.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we learned to respond to life from love instead of reacting to it from our I Self. In this process we become a benefit to all beings by expressing Universal Love in everything we do.
This is not an attempt to change the original twelve steps of Alcoholic Anonymous. These steps are just an interpretation developed to help anyone who sees a need to change the way he or she has been living. These are a tool to be used to help identify why you do the things you do and a step-by-step model of what can be done, if you want to change. It is all contingent on the willingness of the individual to want to change. The steps are not magical.
See how little control you have over things that occur in life. What you can learn to control is the way you respond to what happens to you. Most of us were never given a guide to help us understand this process, nor were we ever taught how to do this.
If you become addicted to a substance or behavior, then you can attend a twelve-step-program. But what if you don't necessarily have a clear-cut addiction, but are looking to enhance and understand your life? Maybe you are looking to fill a void or be more at peace. There are many different tools a person can use to foster change, and you may find these steps useful. They can be used to investigate your perspective of life, and if you choose, to do the things necessary to become aware of your Conditioned Mind Patterns and change that perspective.
As I grew up I did not have control over many things that happened to me, but I could have reacted differently had I been properly taught how to process my reactions and emotions. Instead, I became conditioned. By going along unconsciously I was at the mercy of any number of outside influences and inner repercussions. Unconsciously, I become attached to external things and controlled by them. Reaction don't just happen by themselves, something provokes them. By understanding and utilizing these steps, you can become increasingly aware of your unconsciousness and learn how to be in control of your life - instead of allowing things to control you.