Step Two – Principle 2 of 5: A Power Greater Than Ourselves

Step Two – Principle 2 of 5: A Power Greater Than Ourselves

“…that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

👁️ What It Means on the Surface

This principle invites us to consider that we are not the ultimate authority in our lives. It’s not about defining that Power with precision—it’s about acknowledging that something beyond our own willpower might help. Whether it’s God, the AA fellowship, nature, love, or the collective wisdom of others, the key is this: it’s not just you anymore.

This is the moment when the ego begins to loosen its grip. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone. You don’t have to solve every problem with your own intellect. You don’t have to be the architect of your own salvation.

 

🌌 What Makes a Power “Greater”?

AA leaves the definition of a Higher Power open—but that doesn’t mean all choices are equally helpful. I invite you to consider three qualities that, in my experience, make a Higher Power spiritually meaningful and emotionally transformative:

1. Emotional Resonance

Your Higher Power should shape the emotional landscape of your life. It should evoke awe, humility, and connection. A light bulb might illuminate a room, but it cannot illuminate your soul. Choose something that stirs something deeper in you—something that reminds you that you are not the center of the universe.

2. Capacity for Forgiveness

The reading “Use Me” from Came to Believe reminds us that a Higher Power must be forgiving. The subject feared that God would no longer help him because he had broken many promises. But forgiveness is central to spiritual traditions:

• In Christianity, Jesus’s death on the Cross is seen as the ultimate act of forgiveness—past, present, and future.
• In Judaism, the process of teshuvah (repentance), tefilah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity) during Yom Kippur reflects a deep commitment to forgiveness and renewal.
• In Buddhism, “making merit” through good deeds and mindfulness is a way to balance karma and seek purification.

In AA, we see this principle lived out every day. Members relapse, return, and are welcomed with open arms. That’s forgiveness in action. That’s grace.

3. Gravitas Through Naming

Calling your Higher Power “light bulb” or “doorknob” might seem clever—but often, it’s a defensive posture. It’s a way to sidestep the discomfort of engaging with something sacred. For some, the idea of God has been tangled up with childhood images of a mystical man in the sky. So instead of elevating their concept of a Higher Power, they choose something deliberately mundane. It’s not just skepticism—it’s satire.

AA, unfortunately, doesn’t always have the tools to respond. Many old-timers—wise, compassionate, and deeply experienced—grew up in a time when formal education ended early. They speak from the heart, not from textbooks. I’ve heard many of them on old AA tapes say things like, “Your Higher Power can be anything—even the wall.” They’re trying to be inclusive, to keep the door open. And they’re doing the best they can with the tools they have.

But that’s why we need to articulate this better—not to shame anyone, but to offer a more expansive vision. Your Higher Power doesn’t have to be religious. It doesn’t have to be named “God.” But it should be something that lifts you up—not something chosen to mock the very idea of transcendence.

Even the word “Presence,” as one fellow described—a force that kept him from ending his life—is a name with weight. It’s not flashy. It’s not dogmatic. But it’s sacred.

 

👁️ Common Pitfalls and Misinterpretations

1. Waiting for the Penny to Drop in Someone Else’s Head

Recovery doesn’t work that way. The insight must be yours. Until it is, advice—even from those who love you—can feel like intrusion.

2. Equating “Power” with Religion

Many recoil at the word “Power” because it sounds like a religious imposition. But AA is not a religion—it’s a spiritual program. The “Power” can be anything that helps you transcend your own limited thinking. It’s not about dogma; it’s about direction.

3. Trying to Define the Power Too Early

Some get stuck trying to name or understand this Power before they trust it. But Step Two doesn’t ask for a definition—it asks for openness. You don’t need to know how electricity works to turn on a light. Let the experience come first. Understanding can follow.

4. Making Yourself the Exception

“Sure, that works for others—but not for me.” This is the voice of terminal uniqueness. It’s the ego’s last stand. But if you’re reading this, you’ve already proven that your own power wasn’t enough. Why not try something else?

 

👁️ Personal Reflection

I’m writing this after a quiet lunch with my wife, Alison. We were talking about this book, and I said to her, “In a nutshell, I’ve spent the last 35 years trying to bend the universe to my will. When I couldn’t, I got frustrated, angry, and disappointed in myself. And then I drank to quell the pain. When I couldn’t stop drinking, I felt ashamed—and drank again to forget that shame. It was an infinite loop. Or more accurately, a downward spiral.”

Alison looked at me and said, “Well, I could have told you that.”

And she probably did. But for someone like me—fueled by self-will run riot—my reaction would’ve been, “Who do you think you are to know what’s going on inside my head better than I do?”

That’s the thing. I wouldn’t have listened to anyone who wasn’t a recovering alcoholic. The penny had to drop in my own head. It had to be my idea. That’s when the power dynamic shifts. That’s when you start flipping the influence of what I call “The Adversary”—the anti-spirit forces in your head that have been manipulating you for years. You begin to manipulate it instead. You begin to transcend your limited thinking.

 

🧍♂️ The “I’m Different” Trap

Before I went to my first AA meeting in Launceston, I nearly fell into the trap of thinking I was the exception. “I can’t go to AA,” I told myself. “Launceston’s a small town. People will know me. It’ll get back to my clients.”

Out of the 60 or so regular attendees, I’d had professional dealings with exactly one person. And even then, it was ten minutes of work and hours of drinking at a party I hosted. Everyone else? Total strangers.

I wasn’t different. I wasn’t special. I was just another person trying to stop drinking.

I’ve seen others come into the rooms and leave just as quickly. I suspect they played the “I’m different” card in their heads too. Some had horrific pasts—like killing in war zones. On the surface, yes, they were different. But deep down, we were the same. They drank to forget the past. I drank to forget the present. It’s a tomato, to-mate-o thing.

AA recovery isn’t about the original trigger. It’s about working with a Power greater than yourself to prevent the next one.

Why Labels Matter

This Power doesn’t need a name. But naming helps. There’s psychological research that supports the idea that labels and language help us think. You can’t collaborate on a thought about a pink elephant riding a skateboard if you don’t have words for “pink,” “elephant,” or “skateboard.” Labels give shape to the abstract. They help us relate, reflect, and share.

That’s why naming your Higher Power—whether it’s “God,” “Presence,” “Spirit,” “Grace,” or something else—can be a powerful act. It gives form to the formless. It helps you build a relationship with something greater than yourself.

 

✨ Final Thought

You don’t have to name your Higher Power. But if you do, it might help you believe in it. And whether you name it or not, the real shift begins when you stop pretending you are it.

PART IV

A strong advocate for freedom, limited government, and enterprise-driven progress, Jason also draws deeply from his personal recovery journey—an experience that reshaped his life and fuels his commitment to growth, contribution, and principled living. Through writing, speaking, and service, he continues to learn, share, and speak with purpose.

I can be engaged (on a remunerated or volunteer basis) to sit on Boards, Committees, Advisory and Reference Group Panels, and to speak to Business, Community, and Youth groups. I’m also open to providing comment to media on topics where I have relevant experience or insight. Please feel free to make contact.