One of the greatest challenges many of us face in the early recovery process is the process of finding a higher power for the first time. Whether you’ve struggled with this concept, or you’ve got some old ideas that you intend to examine, connecting with a higher power is a core tenet of the 12 step process.

Finding a higher power in is a personal journey that starts with openness to something greater than oneself. Engage with others in recovery, read, and reflect on your values to shape a concept of God that makes sense for you!

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the various higher power concepts that folks have come up with, and provide some practical tips to help you get started finding a higher power that

Why finding a higher power matters

When we were caught in the grip of drugs and alcohol, substances ruled our lives. Consider:

• In general, we did whatever would get us the drugs we wanted
• We were usually willing to compromise our own morals in order to get high (lie, cheat, steal, etc)

In other words, we already had a higher power: substances!

When we come into recovery, the first thing we look at is the first step: we admitted we were powerless.

All we mean when we suggest that someone find a higher power is that they should “fire” their old one (drugs) and get a new one!

Where to start finding a higher power in recovery

Below are some practical steps for finding one’s higher power, but first, we’d like to make something clear: your higher power doesn’t specifically need to be dogmatic or to reflect any other concept of God you’ve been presented with in the past. We simply use the term higher power to refer to a power greater than us.

In other words, it could be the God of your youth, spirituality, or religion, but it doesn’t have to be.

Some examples of higher power concepts we hear often:

• Traditional religious conceptions of God
• Love or compassion
• Nature
• The universe
• A Group of Drunks (G.O.D.!)
• Good Orderly Direction from others!

Just so we’re clear – we get to choose the higher power concept that makes the most sense to us. Each recovering person’s prayer and meditation life is uniquely their own.

1. Read We Agnostics

If you’re working with a 12 step sponsor, it’s likely that you’ve done this already. If you haven’t ensure that you read the “We Agnostics” chapter from the book Alcoholics Anonymous. This chapter contains a great primer for the rationale for having a higher power in our lives, as well as provides some very practical ways of thinking about how to develop your own concept.

Note that this chapter is worth a read whether you consider yourself agnostic or not. Even the most religious among us find something of value within its pages.

2. Discuss the issue with your sponsor

Speaking of your sponsor, we recommend that you lean on them heavily as you develop your concept of a higher power. They are likely the person whose quality of recovery you respect the most, so use their experience!

It’s likely that your 12-step sponsor had the same struggles as you, and they can provide you with that pieces of wisdom that helped them through the process, as well as give you practical guidance on how to begin to connect with your newfound concept of God, as you understand Him.

3. Ask 3-5 people you trust about their higher power

If you ask five different individuals in recovery about what their higher power is, you’re likely to get five different answers. The beautiful thing about this process is that your higher power can be anything – it just has to be a power greater than you!

If you’ve been around recovery for more than a few weeks, you’ve likely met some people who’s opinions you respect. Ask them:

• What was the process of getting a higher power like for them?
• What did they land on?
• Has their higher power changed over time?
• What is it about their concept of God that makes sense to them?

You will find that you hear many concepts and ideas through these conversations. Some of them may resonate with you, and others won’t. That is totally okay. Take each of the elements that make sense to you and use them as you form your own idea of a higher power.

4. Keep an open mind

Even within our first 30 days of sobriety, we’re all introduced to the concept of Step Zero:

Being honest, open minded, and willing!

When we’re looking for a higher power, open-mindedness is a big deal. We’re asking to overturn old ideas in many facets of life; it can be helpful to look at developing a higher power concept as simply being another one of these facets.

Whether we’ve had bad experiences in the past, or whether we’ve considered ourselves atheists, simply trying the spiritual life can be a big help. There’s no reason to get hung up on any one detail, and remember: nothing you’re doing now has to be forever.

If you decide to go with something else later, or you decide in the end that recovery isn’t for you, that’s totally okay. What’s important is that you didn’t quit before you fully tried it.

5. If you can’t decide for now, borrow someone else’s higher power!

One thing you’ll commonly hear in the rooms is that they struggled to find a higher power the could “do business with,” and so their sponsor told them to borrow theirs!

This may be a long-term solution, or it may not. That’s okay – the important part is that you can get going with something that will work while you continue your search.

Take what you like and leave the rest

One of the things to remember in recovery is that it’s a journey of progress, not perfection. There’s no need to rush or try make everything “perfect.” It's truly just one day at a time! Recovery is constantly evolving, and if you choose to incorporate a higher power into your life and later decide to change or expand on it, that’s perfectly okay.

The important part is that you're open to growth. A helpful reminder is the motto, “Take what you like and leave the rest.” This concept has been a game-changer for many in recovery, helping them feel less pressure and more freedom to expand on what works for them while developing a higher power.

If you're not sure where to start with this, try asking others about their higher power and how they came to believe in it. Two minds are better than one, and you might find insights that resonate with you.

In the early stages of recovery, there can be many stumbling blocks. Remember that you don’t need to go any part of this alone (that’s how we used to do it!). Changing that way of thinking can take time.

Go easy on yourself, take a deep breath, and keep coming back. Things will click with time, and like we often say, “don’t quit before the miracle happens!”

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