AA Step 3: Turn Your Will & Life to The Care of Your Higher Power

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free, meeting-based fellowship where individuals looking to overcome their problem drinking can do so together.¹ Using a 12-Step program, members of AA work to achieve sobriety in several ways, including by admitting to being powerless over alcohol to ultimately achieve a spiritual awakening.² 

This page dives into Step 3 of AA, which focuses on surrendering and letting go of ego. We will discuss this step, its purpose, and how it plays a pivotal role in the 12-Step program. 

What is Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?

“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.”²

Put simply, Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous encourages you to make a conscious decision to put your life in the hands of a higher power, surrendering control and the compulsive need for it.² Unlike Step 1, where you are encouraged to admit that you are powerless over alcohol, Step 3 asks you to take action by internally handing that control over to a force you believe to be greater than yourself – whether that be God, the universe, nature, or even the power of your AA group.² 

Through this relinquishment, you allow yourself the grace needed to let go of your self-will, which has likely served as an obstacle in regard to your addiction as opposed to a motivator. However, the faith and trust you place in your higher power can promote emotional vulnerability, giving you the green light to step away from your ego and towards other sources of guidance and support. 

What is the Purpose of Step 3 of AA?

There are several purposes of Step 3 of AA, all of which are designed to ultimately aid you in shifting your mindset and approach to recovery. However, the primary, overarching purpose of this step is accepting that you cannot recover from alcohol addiction on your own, nor do you have to.² 

As you focus on acceptance and trust in your higher power, you will be met with opportunities to build on character traits like humility and courage that serve as critical building blocks in your recovery. Truly understanding the purpose of Step 3 and incorporating it into your recovery is an absolute prerequisite to success in the steps to follow.

How to Complete Step 3 of AA

Developing an understanding of what is Step 3 of AA is usually far simpler than putting it into practice. The end goal of Step 3 is to fulfill its purpose, which, as previously mentioned, is to accept that recovery is not something accomplished on one’s own.² Achieving that goal may look different for everyone, as there are multiple ways that this step can be achieved. 

Some ways that you can work the third step of AA include the following:

• Maintain an open mind  –  Accepting the fact that getting sober and staying that way on your own is unlikely is no small feat. As you work Step 3, focus on maintaining an open mind as much as you can, so you can begin to absorb guidance from both your higher power and members of your AA community. 
• Identify what you can control and what you cannot – It might seem like an age-old approach to putting things into perspective, but identifying what you can control and what you cannot control can free up some important space in your emotional reserves. Allowing the things you cannot control to fall to the wayside can refocus you on the things you can control, leading to personal growth and unlocking doors to continued success.
• Work with your sponsor – Hopefully, by now, you have already found a sponsor who is helping you navigate the 12 Steps. Sponsors can be vital for people in recovery, as they have not only gone through the Steps themselves but are capable of guiding others through them, too.³ Your sponsor can offer encouragement, recommendations, and an ear to listen to your thoughts, feelings, and experiences as you work through the Steps.³ 

Be sure to put forth a plan for Step 3 that feels doable for you. What may work for others may not work for you, and that is normal and ok. Considering these and other strategies can help you tackle this Step in preparation for the Steps to come.  

How Step 3 of AA Fits Into Your Recovery Journey

Completing Step 3 can be a monumental moment in your recovery journey, as letting go of the belief that you can manage your alcohol use disorder on your own is not easy, nor is willingly allowing others (including a higher power) into your life. It is important to remember, however, that this Step is just one of many that work cohesively to serve one purpose – helping you get sober and stay that way. 

Simply jumping in at Step 3 and expecting to feel ready to hand over control to a higher power of your understanding is an unrealistic expectation. But, it can quickly become a reality after you have completed Steps 1 and 2, and here’s why:

• Step 1 serves as a starting point for all members, as it requires acknowledging that you are powerless over alcohol, and as a result, your life is no longer manageable.² Coming to terms with that helps pave the way for Step 2.
• Step 2 requires you to develop an understanding that a power greater than yourself can help you regain control of your life.² Throughout this Step, you can get comfortable with the notion that a higher power is there and able to help.
• Step 3 builds upon Steps 1 and 2, helping provide you with the confidence and motivation to actively hand your life and will over to the higher power of your choosing in the spirit of surrender.² 

Step 4 is notoriously challenging for many, however, the foundation you have built with the first three Steps can continue to guide you as you begin this Step, where you will make a “fearless and moral inventory” of yourself.² This is often done through exercises that promote self-examination and reflection on the character traits that have negatively contributed to a person’s life.²

How to Find a 12-Step AA Program

For many, their first introduction to a 12-Step AA program happens while they are in rehab. Treatment centers may offer 12-Step meetings or provide information for local meetings nearby. Whether you are leaving rehab or have no connection to a treatment center but are looking to attend a 12-Step AA meeting, you have options:

• Visit the AA website. By clicking this link, you will be directed to the official AA website where you can search for in-person meetings near you, as well as virtual meetings. 
• Download the app. The Meeting Guide App helps people locate AA meetings no matter where they are, as well as access details of those meetings such as times, types, and frequency.
• Contact a treatment center near you. Since AA is anonymous, going around and asking people for information about meetings isn’t ideal. However, you can reach out to a local treatment center and speak with someone who may be able to offer a recommendation or at least guide you toward the right resources.

All people willing to get sober from alcohol addiction are invited to attend any AA meetings anytime, anywhere. Offered in 180 countries, you can locate a meeting no matter where you are and know that you’ll receive the support you need to keep going.⁴ 

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