"We are just like you, and we have found something that works."

And now ...

12 Step Songs For 12 Step Miracle Workers

The 12 Steps Of Recovery In Harmony With A Course In Miracles

"What you perceive in others you are
strengthening in yourself"

1.  We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable: 

Most of us coming into the 12 Step rooms feel very isolated. We have become a slave to our addiction and life has become a nightmare. A lot of us simply don't realize there is a solution. A solution to hold our addiction at bay if we are willing. A solution moving us into a space where we have hope. A solution that won't "cure" our addiction but will channel us in another direction where we can, with the help of others and our Higher Power, change our lives for the better. 

When we have accepted our mission to extend the love of the program we find an inner peace for ourselves.  By making it manifest we see it and feel its power.  We learn, as another starts to awaken from their nightmare dream of addiction, there is no veil the love of our Higher Power cannot lift.  We have opened the way to truth.  As we teach we learn.  When we share with another, without judgement, we opened the door to miracles.  With the help of the miracle we both learn in an instant what may have taken a lifetime.

Please read the lyrics of each song - Then click on the links to the songs on the right hand side of this web site

A First Step Song - Stepping Out

Stepping out I'm learning I am powerless

That my life to this points been insane

But I'm learning there's a way to live again

There's a way to clear away the pain

I see the sober light you found together

Shinning like a beacon through my rain

You tell me to keep coming that I'm welcome

By gosh you even know me by my name

Just show up you say and things get better

Keep coming and I'll start to understand

And that I'm helping all of you stay sober

I don't yet get it but I'm glad I am

How does it work? What is all this magic?

What kind of miracle helps with what's so tragic?

I hear the power in your learning thunder

Teaching me the hope the first step brings

What I learned awakening by The Twelve Steps and the study of A Course In Miracles:  Miracles are, among other things, a way to earn are release from fear . One of our prayers in the program shares: "Relieve me of bondage of self so I may better do by will".  The word "self" in this prayer refers to a tiny mad idea , our ego. While self-esteem is a good thing the ego isn't. Its goals is to ease God out . The very last thing our ego wants us to do is to surrender to our Higher Power. So for any of us to have the willingness to surrender is a miracle in itself.

Anytime two or more people meet there are always ego's involved.  We may not be sure of ourselves, or the other learning partner.  It takes a little time to move past ego judgement of one another and establish a working relationship.

The Twelve Steps helps make adjustment to others much less complicated.  Everyone is already on the same page when we join them for our first meetings.  We are greeted by nonjudgmental people who realize how important we are, as newcomers, to the very program itself.  We are all the same.  This oneness helps us all draw down greater willingness to explore a better way.  We are in a safe setting, with people just like us, and for the first time, in a long time, we savor a little hope. 

In that sense we then become a part of the miracle working wonder of the Twelve Steps of Recovery.   Hour by hour, one day at a time, we awaken from the nightmare and start on our journey.  This first step is the only one we need work perfectly.  I can't, you can, so I'm going to let you show me the way.

"God is as incapable of creating the perishable
as the ego is of making the eternal"

2.  Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 

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

There is a saying we hear sometimes in the 12 Step rooms.  "You can tell an alcoholic but you can't tell them much."  As we approach the second step we are becoming teachable.  We have opened the door to wisdom.  We are no longer a separate mind, in a separate body, completely on own own.  We have made a decision to listen to lean and learn to listen. 

Many of us experience a "pink cloud" feeling that comes with the awakening.  It is a feeling most of us have never experienced before.  It just seems to "happen" as we take our second step.  Words to describe this feeling are difficult because it is just so wonderful.  As we kneel down to take our Third Step we have allowed our Higher Power to once again be our guide.  The ego is at last at bay. 

Sidebar:  Some of us have a great fear of our Higher Power. We are about to move past this ego insanity as we work four and five. Here is a direct quote from A Course In Miracles that I really love ...

"You are altogether irreplaceable in the Mind of God. No one else can fill your part of it, and while you leave your part of it empty your eternal place merely waits for you return."

Our Higher Power placed in the mind the call to joy.  This call is so strong that the ego always dissolves at its sound.

Came To Believe - 2nd and 3rd Step Song

My second step falls into place

And a pink cloud surrounds my face

I'm moving to a better space

Cause I'm coming to believe in you

Coming to believe in you

Coming to believe in you

As I climbed that step tower

To find my Higher Power

I'm coming to believe in you

I'm taking my third step now

Other wise how would I know how

To keep from starting to sink

And I'd wind up taking that drink

I came to believe in You

I came to believe in You

As I climbed that step tower

To find my Higher Power

I came to believe in You

I didn't think I stood a chance
Of ever doing a sober dance
But Oh Boy!  Just look at me prance
Cause I came to believe in You

We gently become aware that it is quite possible to listen to God's Voice all through the day without interrupting our regular activities in any way. We now know that the part of our mind in which truth abides is in constant communication with our Higher Power whether we are aware of it or not. There is no problem in any situation that faith will not solve.

"As forgiveness allows love
to return to my awareness,
I will see a world of
peace and safety and joy"

4.  Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

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

No one on this planet is perfect.  The ego uses our mistakes to stay in control of our lives.  It is not possible to experience peaceful recovery when our minds are cluttered by guilt.  "We are only as sick as our secrets" is often how people in the program start conversations around the 4th, and 5th Steps.    

In these two steps we are working to forgive ourselves.  No one among us has all the answerer's but we are all aware that forgiveness, acceptance and love is the cornerstone of both our soberly and our goal of helping others to experience sobriety.  We accept our Higher Powers forgiveness by extending it to ourselves.  It is difficult to give from an empty cup.  There is great emptiness within us when we have riddled with guilt.  These steps clear the way ...

Wisdom From A Course In Miracles:

  *It is as sure that those who hold grievances will suffer guilt, as it is certain that those who forgive will find peace.

*If we want peace we will find it only through forgiveness.  Forgiveness of ourselves and others around us.

*The one wholly true thought one can hold about the past is there it is not here.  :)

*As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace and safety and joy.

Drifting Back In Time - A 4th and 5th Step Song

I'm sitting at this table

Drifting back in time

Writing down the stuff I did

That really was unkind

People that I often hurt

Including even me

Working on my 4th Step

Trying to get guilt free

There was this person

That person too

Things I did to them

Made them feel blue

Why was I so angry?

Why was I so mad?

Why was I dishonest

And do things oh so bad?

I stole some money

I wrecked the car

I lied to loved one

Yes it went that far

There's more to write here

Much more to share

It will be a darn wonder

If anybody cares

(Spoken)

I was feeling so bad as I wrote the 4th Step I walked over to that 1,000 pound Elephant, commonly referred to by earth people as the telephone.  I called my sponsor and he put me back on the right track

Son, your no so awful

Your not so cruel

Don't dance with ego boy

Don't play the fool

You just write that 4th Step

Don't leave anything out

We will get you off your guilt trip

And learn what hope's about

We've all dome somethings

One thing or two

We have all hurt people

It's something drinkers do

It's time to work it out

Time to work through

You write all the stuff down

Then I'll talk with you

So I wrote all that stuff down

Everything good and bad

Shared with him my secrets

Some were really sad

But I started to feel better

Better inside

Man it feels like Heaven

With nothing to hide

And forgiveness it was catching

Just like he said

When I shared with another

It wasn't so bad

And I forgave myself now

Along the way

And I'm staying in the instant

Staying in the day

"To be born again is to
let the past go, and look
without condemnation upon
the present"

6.  We are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character

7.  Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

"My Creator I am now willing that You should have all of me, good and bad.  I Pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to You and my follows.  Grant me strength as I go from here, to do your bidding" (7th Step Prayer)

Entirely ready is a good place to start with these two steps.  If we are not willing to give up our shortcomings completely, our Higher Power has extended us free will, and they pop up again and again.  The key is to recognize the short comings and truly ask Him to remove them.  Once in a while we may not have been "entirely" ready.  In such cases we work the step again, and use the power of the Tenth Step as we will explore a little later.

It would be unwise to think our ego gives up on trying to control our lives.  It sits back in a dark corner of our minds then it strikes with stuff we think we have long forgotten.  This is a way to never have to cross the  sidewalk so as not to meet someone we have hurt.  We talk with our sponsor after we have made our list.  We meet face to face with those you and your  sponsor feel is the "right time" now.  In cases where the person isn't around anymore many suggest writing a letter. 

Our request to the Higher Power is, of course, best on our knees. Not because God need our willingness and humanity, but because we  need our willingness and humility  :)

Wisdom From A Course In Miracles:

*When any situation arises which tempts you to become disturbed, say: "Is there another way of looking at this".

"There is not a moment in which His Voice fails to direct my thoughts, guide my actions and lead my feet when I'm willing. I am walking steadily on toward truth"

"When we are not wholly joyous, it is because we have reacted with a lack of love to one of God's creations." Including ourselves:)

Could I Dance A New Dance - A 6th and 7th Step Song

Would it be like Heaven if I worked Six and Seven?

Would it be like freedom from fear?

Could I dance me a new dance?

Take me a new stance?

Perhaps even savor good cheer?

There are things that could I

If only just would I

To clear up some stuff that's not clear

Would it be like Heaven if I worked Six and Seven?

Would it be like freedom from fear?

I still dance with my ego

Don't like the way things go

And the neighbors dog barks don't you hear?

And my old girlfriend

Is going with a new man

Why she dumped me real clear

So I sit here on some days

Thinking about one days

Not happy or really sincere

Would it be like Heaven if I worked Six and Seven?

Would it be like freedom from fear?

We have all done things to one another,
and  ourselves, that simply were not loving.
As we make our list, then make our amends,
we take another weapon away from our ego.

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 do do s would injure them or others.

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

Our task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within ourselves we have built against it.  Past wrongs is a weapon our ego will use to stay in control.  We truly have to open that dark closet door and think back to all those we have harmed in any way.  Including ourselves.  Again, from A Course In Miracles ...  "Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter; It must begin with our own thoughts and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises"

When we have done something unloving we have found it best to simply say "I am sorry" and move on. When we are not wholly joyous, it is because we have reacted with a lack of love to one of God's creations.  The key is to "ditch the guilt" with an apology just as soon as we become willing. (The sooner the better)

Wisdom From A Course In Miracles

*You who want peace can find it only by complete forgiveness.

*As forgiveness allows love to return to my awareness, I will see a world of peace, safety and joy.

*The way to our Higher Power is through forgiveness here.  There is no other way.

*Those who remember always that they know nothing, and who have become willing to learn everything, will learn it.

*The grace of God rests gently on forgiving eyes, and everything the look on speaks of Him to the beholder.

Making My Amends - An 8th, 9th, and 10th Step Song

I have been making my amends to those around me

Who've experienced my insanity

I've been asking for forgiveness thought we don't talk a lot

Most were willing ... two were not

I've got one more amends I'd like to make

But that person is gone and my hear aches

I'll not see her again in this life

And I caused that woman pain and strife

My sponsor says that there's a way

I can make amends to her today

Just write her a letter and say I feel bad

About the stuff I said that made the lady sad

Just say "Mom, I'm sorry for the things that I did

I know that you loved me and I'm blessed that you did

I'm trying to be that kid you loved

And I feel you shinning down from above"

"This program Mom I'm working is working for me

Tell Dad when you see him that I'm happy and free

I'm working on being the best I can be

Miracles are happening Mom for me"

I selected this picture because of the pure
innocence of it.   We may start out like
the two guys at the table.  But with a lot of work
we may become more like the kid and his mom.

Step 11.  Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out


Everyone in the program has their own way of prayer and meditation.  However, most of us are in contact with Him more often than not.  We have come to depend on His guidance and His Love.  In quited all things are gently resolved, one day at a time.  We come into the rooms more like the two guys in the picture, and, over time, we become more like the kid and his mom :)

Wisdom from A Course In Miracles : 

"Gratitude to God becomes the way in which He is remembered, for love cannot be far behind a grateful heart and a thankful mind." 

I Found A Haven - An 11th and 12 Step Song

I'm nearer Heaven working Step Eleven

I'm growing stronger

I found a haven, that I'd been craven

In quiet times I stop and pray

I'm even learning and its just great

To stop and hear ... to mediate

I move from fear and peace is near

My sight is focus ... very clear

I hear the rain I hear the rain

Tap gently on the window pain

I see the snow, the silver snow

Reflected in the moon light glow

I feel the sun, the warming sun

Watching children laugh and run

And every day .. come what may

I'm grateful for our 12 Step way

Step Twelve:  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.

We have learned that "preaching" doesn't get the job done where addiction is concerned.  Coming to realize the best thing we can share with anyone, in the program or out of the program, is our own experience, strength and hope.  People respond to others who act, feel and care in such a way that their learning partners want to experience the same feelings.  We are not a "dogmatic lot. 

In A Course In Miracles I have learned that God's Teachers come from all religions and from no religion.  They have turned their will and their life over to the care of God and ask for His direction. 

I also have learned this in the rooms of The Twelve Steps.  We can see and feel the love working in our lives.  And, as a big time bonus, we can see it work in the lives of others.  We are not separate and alone.  We are One with God and All Creation.  Living our lives, following The Twelve Steps of Recovery, one day at a time.

The Sponsor Song (not on site at this time)

My life is a mess

It's the drinking I guess

I'm scared and unsure ..

Tell me is there a cure

Chorus:  Take the first step, take the first step, take the first step right now

That's the first step, take the first step, it gets better somehow
(Repeat this chorus using the next step)

I'm learning from you

 About the things that you do

To find some release

 To experience peace

You say turn it over

 To surrender is bolder

By gosh I can see,

his is working for me

I'm making a list 
Checking it twice 
You're going to find out 
When I was naughty and nice 

Should I share all my stuff? 
Will the sharing be tough? 
I think I will do it 
Do you think I'll get through it?

I have other issues 
Lots of stuff on my mind 
Can I ask my Higher Power? 
For a little help on down the line? 

The Pink Cloud is floating 
Everywhere I am going 
I'm really so grateful 

Learning to be faithful

There was Johnnie and Bob 
Mary and Rob 
People I hurt 
And treated like dirt 

As long as I live 
I don't think they'll forgive 
But I need to get through it 
So I think I'll get to it 

I can't believe I did it 
I was wrong ... didn't admit it 
I said some bad things 
I was clearly to blame 

I'm learning to pray 
I do it each day 
It helps me to be 
Happy, joyous and free 

Repeat chorus using 11 th Step 

Our experience and hope
May help others to cope 
Keeping us all sober 
Cause the learning's never over 

"I hang out in Naples, on the Gulf Coast in SW Florida
If your interested in a 40 minute meeting about Step Stuff in Song
click on my email anytime and tell me how to get in touch with you"

Thanks for letting me share ...

Jimmy G
StepMiracles@aol.com

*I did see Gods form on earth.  Based on my experience, quotes and paraphrased statements from A Course In Miracles, and the Twelve Steps, are a large part of this blog