Many years after my involvement with Al-Anon, I researched 12 step programs from a social-psychological perspective in my undergrad work. The research showed that the total success rate for 12-step programs is 3%. Yet it is the main (if not the only) program supported by the psycho-therapeutic community. From a social-psychological perspective, the reason success was low was because in order to remain in a social circle, you need to continue to identify with what is common to the group.
While the initial steps discuss an acknowledgement of “God”, making a constant connection through prayer and meditation is not addressed until step 11. Step 4 discusses making a fearless and moral inventory of ourselves, but this implies further through steps 5-10 the focus in that inventory is only a list of our shortcomings. Therefore, one possibility for this low success rate is the continuation of sabotaging personal recovery in order to remain in the main social group.
I never dared questioning the steps in an Al-Anon meeting, but I’ve always wondered why step 11 didn’t come before step 4. Because early in a recovery process-especially with drug and alcohol-people not are very clear on their perceptions of reality. I think my constant connection with spirit is what led me to believe that I was not diseased for life and that there were certainly other dynamics at play that I did not fully understand until I was in a better state of peace and centeredness. It is through this constant contact with God or spirit that, I realize, you begin to gain the ability to have a broader all-seeing perspective on reality. Otherwise, we are only relying on your own mind and ego, which is spiritually limited.
Emotional work can be accelerated through the movement of energy...
I haven’t thought much about my time in Al-Anon until my work with Catherine. As a spiritual healer, I feel that emotional work can be accelerated through the movement of energy as well as with that quiet constant contact I make with spirit. During a session with Catherine, I was guided into asking Catherine to make a list of all of the good qualities she found within her own character. Immediately, she conveyed a look of disdain. I continued to get a sense of her resistance to performing this task in closing the session. As I witnessed this, I realized that there lies the answer for Catherine’s release of shame. And only Catherine can heal this problem by beginning to acknowledge all the good she possesses and all the things she is actually doing right in her life in the here and now.
Going back in our histories over and over again to the poor judgments, mistakes, and our dysfunctional upbringings is not going to move anyone into complete healing. We need to look at these things of course, but we also need to move on. We are all here to learn and cultivate higher states of virtue. That is part of our destiny here on Earth. This cultivation takes place usually through human error and this is how we gain our wisdom. But once the realizations of our human flaws are recognized and addressed, we need to honor spirit for giving us the gift of the lessons. The best way to honor spirit is by embracing a truer moral inventory which includes identifying what we have learned from our mistakes as well as all the goodness and beauty we carry within our own being.
I encourage each of you to reflect and honor what is good and beautiful within yourself. The issues you remain stuck on, place the focus on the wisdom you have already obtained. I know it’s there. Allow yourself to honor your own goodness and be O.K. with who you are today. And, share your beauty with the world.
With many blessings,
Sara Burns, MSW, Reiki Teacher
