I would ask that you approach each of these alternative twelve steps with an open mind. Even the Big Book itself says the steps are suggestive only (Page 59, Alcoholics Anonymous). If any of these alternatives resonate, put them to use. If not, just move on and be grateful for the opportunity to be open to something a little different.

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that Emptiness could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of Emptiness as we understood Emptiness.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to Emptiness, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have Emptiness remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Emptiness to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with Emptiness as we understood Emptiness, praying only for knowledge of Emptiness’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.