Twelve Steps, Twelve Truths: A Practical Guide to Living: Step One.
Powerlessness over life's Challenges.
The Twelve Steps were born in the rooms of recovery, but in my humble opinion, their wisdom stretches far beyond addiction. They are, at their core, a path of honesty, surrender, courage, and growth — truths that every human being must face head-on during these insane times. In this series, we explore each Step not only through the lens of recovery but also through the insights of Stoic philosophy and timeless spiritual traditions. The goal is simple: to show that these Steps form not just a program for sobriety, but a practical guide to living — a way for anyone, addict or not, to find clarity, resilience, and freedom in a world we cannot control. Today, Sunday, September 21, 2025, we begin with Step One. I hope you enjoy. —Joe
“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and life—that our lives had become unmanageable.”
Step One was written for alcoholics, but its wisdom speaks to every human being. It marks the beginning of a journey — the moment we step through the gate and face the open sea of life. We all wrestle with the tension between what we want to control and what is truly beyond our control. For some, it is a bottle. For others, it is a child’s choice, Sheridan Road traffic at rush hour, our aging bodies, or even the way strangers perceive us in line at Starbucks. Step One reminds us that every voyage begins not with mastery, but with humility.
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus said it centuries ago: “Some things are up to us, and some are not.” What is up to us? Our judgments, our choices, our actions, or how we comb our hair (back when I had it). What is not? The weather, the economy, the behavior of others, or even the inevitability of death. When we confuse these, we suffer. The addict drinks against reality. The rest of humanity may scheme, or rage against the same truth: life will not bend entirely to our will.
Step One invites honesty. It reminds us that freedom begins not in tightening our grip over stressful situations, but in loosening it—admitting our limits, surrendering our unhealthy illusions, and letting reality be what it is. For the alcoholic, for me, this was the first breath of recovery. For the ordinary individual, it is the first step toward an everlasting peace; if we trust in the process.
Nothing is humiliating in admitting powerlessness. It is simply true: we cannot command everything. Yet paradoxically, this admission clears the way for genuine strength. Indeed, what doesn’t kill us tempers us with strength. When we stop trying to control the uncontrollable, we reclaim the narrow but vital field that is truly ours: our attitude, our response, and ultimately, our way of living today.
To confess, “I cannot control this,” is not defeat—it is wisdom. It is the beginning of freedom, for addict and non-addict alike.
Meditation
Say to yourself:
I will not waste my life commanding the uncontrollable. I will live where my hands and heart have power: in my thoughts, my actions, and my response. Here, in humility, is the seed of peace.
As a reflection on yesterday’s post, doesn’t “I Am Who I Am” reveal God’s name echoing in all of us? To admit powerlessness is not to lose ourselves, but to return to that simple truth: I am. Present, alive, and open to grace. A happy and blessed Sunday to all—Joe.
Well said, Joe.