One… and… Two… and…

I have been in OA for six and a half years. I have struggled with relapse but also have had long stretches of abstinence. I believe a Power greater than myself can and will (in time) restore me to sanity. My sponsor asked me to write down the actions I take for Step One and Step Two.

My goal for Step One is to be honest about my problems with food, my powerlessness, and my life’s unmanageability. I say the First Step out loud every day. I am accountable to and honest with my sponsor. I convey my food plan and exactly what I’m eating each day. I share honestly at meetings about problems with food. I wrote down my food history, and I included details about bingeing, dieting, eating out, eating in secret, eating at night, and grazing. I also wrote down my trigger foods and made a red/yellow/green light food list. I wrote and shared with others about unmanageability in other aspects of my life, such as my time management problems, my spending, and my problematic relationships. I strive to be aware of the problems and admit my powerlessness so I can think and talk through concrete actions to help address these issues.

My goal for Step Two is to be open to the existence of a Power greater than me and that Power’s potential to help me. On my knees, as a sign of surrender, I say Step Two out loud every day. I connect with my sponsor and the Fellowship of OA as forms of a Higher Power. I go to meetings, make phone calls, read literature, and use other Tools to recognize that a Power exists; it has restored others to sanity and can do the same for me. I pray for open-mindedness and willingness to take the actions that have helped others. I’ll see what happens—see if those actions help me too. I can act as if I believe until I do believe. A Power greater than myself can be OA, my sponsor, my fellows, my higher/better self, or God if I choose to call it that.

I have been unable to fix my problems, but others like me have had their problems removed or improved because of working the program and the Steps.

— Liz T., Lincoln, Massachusetts USA