Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore our connection

Step 2: Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore our connection.

It seems strange to assert that a better relationship with the greater spirit would help you find a better version of yourself. Wouldn't it make more sense to seek a better connection with yourself directly? We argue that, if this method of seeking were effective, the world's problems would stem from too much self knowledge. We'd be so busy being in relationship with ourselves we wouldn't get anything done in the real world. And we'd never see self-abandonment and the dysfunction that comes with it.

On self-abandonment

Most of us in this program suffer from some level of self-abandonment. Usually trauma in childhood or early adulthood taught us that being ourselves isn't safe. We instead learned to be who the environment wanted or needed us to be, and we played that role. This was necessary for our survival at that time. But it's not necessary anymore. Now we can choose what roles we play in life — we do not let our roles play us.

But this is the crux of the problem with trauma. It's timeless. It never ages, never fades, never becomes less vivid or painful. It is thoughts and feelings frozen in amber. We spend our life as traumatized adults just trying to avoid thinking or feeling that way again. How then do we do the work of breaking all this down and processing it if we can't bear to think about it? We ask for help!

What we mean by a power greater than ourselves

Many people, when considering a power greater than themselves, go back to visualizing the earliest idea they had of "God". That is ok if our first idea is still our strongest and best idea. If you were raised with belief that has been the same throughout your life, then you won't notice a problem.

Those of us with religious or spiritual trauma will often bring up the visual of the god that we are either very angry with or quite fearful of. We beg you to remember as you do this work, we are not talking about any conception of the divine you have considered before now.

Instead we're talking about the small still voice that speaks with such power at the vital moment. We're talking about what has been with you since you were born and will be with you when you leave the Earth. Not the super natural — just the natural. This connection, this relationship, is the birthright of every human being.

But many of us are not taught to access this inheritance. Instead we are taught that this connection is either painful, expensive, or both. That it comes with accepting principles with which we don't agree. That it comes with supporting people we don't support.

We believe that true connection costs nothing but willingness, requires no universal action or inaction, and that it is easier to connect than to remain disconnected.

The powers that animate the universe are always seeking relationship.

You do not have to define it first

Philosophical types are going to be unsatisfied. They're going to want to define the depth and breadth of "God" before moving on. But if this book were about defining the underlying and motivating forces of the universe it'd be a lot longer and we'd be a lot smarter. We truly believe it is not for humans to define this thing. We need not understand it completely to acknowledge what we do know:

1. It exists
2. It seeks connection with us
3. That connection is a vital part of being human

If you're still unsatisfied, and cannot move forward but wish to, please reach out and talk to other members of the group. There are things talking it out can do that words on a page simply cannot recreate.