Getting sober takes courage and determination. Sometimes, in sobriety, we get discouraged. The AA Promises, or 9th Step Promises, are where we can turn to for help. Today we offer several free AA Promises Printable pages for you to use however you’d like.
On pages 83-84 of the AA Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, in Chapter 6, there’s a passage that begins:
“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.”
This means that before we finish the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, some of the promises of AA begin to come true for us. And when this happens, we begin to feel a new freedom from the bondage of alcohol.
The article below will examine the 12 promises of AA and supply a list of AA Promises printable documents that you can print for free.
The 9th Step Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous
“We are going to know a new freedom and happiness.”
“We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.”
“We will comprehend the word serenity.”
“We will know peace.”
“No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.”
“That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.”
“We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.”
“Self-seeking will slip away.”
“Our whole attitude and outlook on life will change.”
“Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.”
“We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.”
“We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”
What Do the Promises Mean?
Let’s take a look at each promise and see what it could mean to you as you recover from addiction.
1. We are going to know a new freedom and happiness.
In recovery, we begin to let go of our addiction. We may go for a few hours or even a few days without thinking about it. This is part of experiencing a new freedom and a new happiness.
2. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
Working the steps with a sponsor helps us see how our past is part of us. We begin to lose interest in self-pity as we see how our experiences benefit us and, most importantly, others’ suffering.
3. We will comprehend and know the word serenity.
Serenity is a keyword in recovery that you may hear often in meetings and from friends in recovery. We strive to be calm, peaceful, and untroubled. Working the steps with a sponsor allows us to comprehend serenity for probably the first time in our lives.
4. We will know peace.
Our minds will be quiet, we will become good people in our workplace, and we will have peace with the choices we make in life.
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
You might be sitting in one of your AA meetings and sharing something you never thought you’d share with anyone, much less at the group level. Afterwards, another member from the group might come up to you and say, “The same thing happened to me, I know how you feel.” Or “I went through something very similar as a child. I’d love to talk to you about it.” This is how this promise might play itself out in your new life.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
Helping out the AA group or club is a great way to stay sober during early and throughout sobriety. Doing little tasks can be a new way of life for many. After some time in AA, there are many opportunities to help out a fellow in the program.
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
We begin to have a new attitude and live by a new set of principles. And as we live this new way of life, we begin to form meaningful relationships and want to help others.
8. “Self-seeking will slip away.”
We will no longer be manipulative to get our way. We rely on a higher power to guide us and relieve us of the bondage of self.
9. “Our whole attitude and outlook on life will change.”
Being sober means having a promising outlook on life. People’s eyes sparkle, their skin glows, and they are happy. This is a promise if you do the work needed to stay sober.
10. “Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us.”
We will no longer have an overwhelming fear of people and know new freedom with our finances.
11. “We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.”
We might be put into demanding and stressful work or home situations. We find we handle these situations differently, and they have better outcomes.
12. “We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”
All of these promises, combined with working the steps, help alcoholics stay sober. The high power is in control now, and we are sober for the first time in our lives. And staying sober.
Conclusion
The AA Promises, or 9th step promises, can be overwhelming.
However, the AA Big Book says,
“Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.” And one more promise, “They will always materialize if we work for them.”
