Promise One - If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.
This promise states that people who complete the AA program and make a sincere effort will begin to see changes in their lives even before they are halfway done.
Promise 2 - We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness
People who finish the steps will experience relief from the suffering of addiction and feel free to pursue a new life without alcohol.
Promise 3 - We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it
Those who work the program will gain a sense of acceptance that allows them to process their experiences, learn from them, and move on without guilt.
Promise 4 - We will comprehend the word serenity, and we will know peace
Addiction can lead to a constant state of inner turmoil. The AA program helps people find a calmness that is rare during active using, and that many addicts have never known in their lives.
Promise 5 - No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others
Many addicts don’t believe that other people understand what they’ve been through. But in AA, they often meet people who can identify with and learn from their experiences.
Promise 6 - That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear
Addiction makes users feel worthless and guilty about their actions. The steps can give people a sense that their lives have a meaning and a purpose, particularly through helping others.
Promise 7 - We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows
Addiction leads to many self-centered behaviors. Helping other people find recovery can bring addicts outside of themselves and help them develop a genuine interest in other people.
Promise 8 - Self-seeking will slip away
The tunnel vision of focusing only on oneself and drinking usually begins to fade as people work the steps.
Promise 9 - Our whole attitude and outlook on life will change
AA can shift one’s perspective from hopeless to hope. People can begin to imagine a life where they are happy.
Promise 10 - Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us
Alcoholics who recover through AA don’t feel like they have to hide anymore or worry about how to support their addiction and maintain financial security.
Promise 11 - We will intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle us.
As the AA member gets deeper into the recovery process, they begin to see situations more clearly and can tap into their inner resources.
Promise 12 - We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves
The concept of a higher power is central to AA. This higher power, be it God or something else, becomes a guiding force in the person’s life.