COURSE

Understanding The Twelve Steps

In this practical and straightforward course, each of the Twelve Steps is discussed in relation to its key words and phrases and how these particulars relate to all aspects of personal recovery. Spiritual principles inherent to each Step are clearly defined so listeners can personalize and implement universal and beneficial teachings into all areas of life. Listeners will ultimately learn how to internalize and integrate these teachings as a reliable framework for recovery from all addictions and similar afflictions and issues.

Addiction Recovery & Healing Happiness Health & Happiness Letting Go Spirituality Spirituality Mindfulness Meditation Mindfulness

Meet your Teacher

Brian Hyman

Malibu, CA, USA

Brian Hyman, RYT, is an accomplished and accredited yoga and meditation instructor, dharma teacher, author, and father. He has been personally sober since 2009, and professionally working in the field of addiction treatment and recovery since 2012. His innovative and dedicated work with recovery has been featured in Whole Life Times, Mantra Wellness, Sober Gratitudes, Recovery 2.0, and many other publications and podcasts. His other courses on Insight Timer include "Recovery: Principles for a Purposeful Life," "The Dharma of Recovery: 5 Powers," "Finding Happiness & Inner Peace," "Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude," "Yogic Principles for Transformation," "Yogic Wisdom for Modern Times," "Dharma of a Rope: Seeing Things Clearly," and "Dharma of a Flower: Awakening in the Here and Now."

12 Days

2.6k students

4.8 stars

10 min / day

Addiction

English

Lesson 1

Step 1: We Admitted We Were Powerless Over [__________] — that Our Lives Had Become Unmanageable

In this lesson, we discuss the significance and plurality of the word “we,” and how this relates to acceptance and surrender. We define what it means to be powerless over alcohol, drugs, other substances, and how unmanageability is prevalent in our relations with all people, places, and things. We talk about the process of empowerment that commences when we admit something. We also talk about the principle of honesty and how it is essential if we are to achieve lasting recovery.

Lesson 2

Step 2: Came to Believe that a Power Greater than Ourselves Could Restore Us to Sanity

In this lesson, we talk about personal opinions and beliefs about a Higher Power and where these things come from and how they can be changed. We discuss the topic of sanity as a harmonization of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. We also talk about the principle of hope for a new way of living life in recovery.

Lesson 3

Step 3: Made a Decision to Turn Our Will and Our Lives Over to the Care of God as We Understood Him

In this lesson, we talk about how to let go of ideas, notions, limited beliefs, conditioned behaviors, and other long-held paradigms that no longer serve our highest good. We learn to trust that we will be supported and upheld and lovingly embraced by what we choose to call a Higher Power. We also talk about the principle of faith and what this means to us each day in recovery.

Lesson 4

Step 4: Made a Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory of Ourselves

In this lesson, we talk about morality, in addition to resentments, attachments, and expectations. We learn how to take a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual inventory. We examine fears, financial issues, safety, security, and more. We also discuss the principle of integrity in relation to how our actions can either be selfish and self-centered, or altruistic and in service to others.

Lesson 5

Step 5: Admitted to God, to Ourselves, and to Another Human Being the Exact Nature of Our Wrongs

In this lesson, we discuss the term admitted, and we learn that throughout recovery we will continue to admit things about who we are, why we are here, and what we are here to do within our lifetime. We talk about trusting others, in addition to building spiritual community or brotherhood/sisterhood with likeminded seekers in recovery. We also talk about the principle of courage and how this relates to truth-telling and congruency.

Lesson 6

Step 6: Were Entirely Ready to Have God Remove All These Defects of Character

In this lesson, we come to terms with default and defense systems in relation to how we have lived life up to this present moment. We learn how to cultivate eagerness and enthusiasm to take contrary actions. We examine how human defects manifest within everyday situations. We also talk about the principle of willingness and how this relates to recognition and renovation.

Lesson 7

Step 7: Humbly Asked Him to Remove Our Shortcomings

In this lesson, we learn how to seek change; how to develop new patterns for living; how to embrace the unknown and uncomfortable. We figure out how to recognize that on our own individual power we may not be able to make lasting changes, yet a Higher Power can and will create lasting change – if we can remember to ask with sincerity. We also discuss the principle of humility and how this step can secure freedom and contentment within all aspects of daily living.

Lesson 8

Step 8: Made A List of All Persons We had Harmed, and Became Willing to Make Amends to Them All

In this lesson, we talk about restoration, resistance, and wholeness in relation to the oneness or interdependence of all things and people. We talk about how to begin to prepare ourselves to face past wrongs in order to live rightly in the present and future. We also talk about the principle of forgiveness of self and others.

Lesson 9

Step 9: Made Direct Amends to Such People Wherever Possible, Except When to Do So Would Injure Them or Others

In this lesson we discuss directness and indirectness. We talk about being responsible and owning our faults and mistakes as well as our assets and achievements. We talk about loving speech and compassionate listening. We also talk about the principle of discipline in regard to righting wrongs and living in a way where we no longer create harms unto ourselves or others.

Lesson 10

Step 10: Continued to Take Personal Inventory and When We Were Wrong Promptly Admitted It

In this lesson, we discuss the importance of daily practices and healthy/productive disciplines. We talk about how to make lists; how to utilize a journal; how to tell others about our faults or mistakes; how to let go of things we wish were different. We talk about putting the needs of others above our own as a pathway to restoration. We also talk about the spiritual principle of perseverance and how to build healthy habits to stay on task one day at a time.

Lesson 11

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 for Us and the Power to Carry That Out

In this lesson, we discuss different ways to approach prayer and meditation. We look at motivations for doing spiritual practices. We begin to make lasting commitments to practices that will support and maintain the integrity of our recovery. We discuss the topic of continuous unfoldment or development throughout recovery. We also talk about the principle of spiritual awareness and how this is the heart of recovery.

Lesson 12

Step 12: Having Had a Spiritual Awakening as The Result of These Steps, We Tried to Carry This Message to Alcoholics [or others who are suffering], and To Practice These Principles in All Our Affairs

In this lesson, we talk about the journey that we have been on and where we will be going from here. We think about how we can be useful in the world and how our lives can have meaning and purpose. We discuss how to help others. We talk about the principle of service and we make a personal promise to try to love and serve ourselves and others as best as we can each day.

4.8 (48)

Recent Reviews

Daniel

January 26, 2026

As I get prepare myself to get a sponsor or I have one now, but I haven't started the steps. This was very helpful. I know it's not gonna be easy, but this is a good teaching. I appreciate the way it was taught.

Barb

October 28, 2025

Sometimes during day I listen to this. If I have a few minutes and need a hit of recovery this is the place I go to. It's not a meeting but it's pretty darn close to it. It's a way to stay grounded in the solution, not the problem. Thank You for your service 🙏.

Josefina

December 21, 2024

Inspiring

Bill

September 14, 2024

Great way of looking at the steps .

Ginny

October 14, 2023

An excellent review of the 12 steps! Thank you 🙏💗🦋

Paige

September 13, 2023

Chrissy

September 12, 2023

So thoughtful in the way each step is dissected. It was useful for me to not just read them but get intimate with them and understand them. When helping others I think this would be wonderful to reference or even use to share the deeper meaning of the steps. I’ve never seen or heard it broken down. Thank you so much. I love your classes. Super powerful! ✨💕

Grace

July 19, 2023

Great introduction that I definitely learned some important takeaways and insights. Thank you

Dianne

July 15, 2023

Very helpful.

Ryan

June 11, 2023

Great information on the 12 Steps!

Amanda

June 9, 2023

A nice thoughful and thorough introduction to the twelve steps.

Celia

May 8, 2023

It was lovely to walk through the twelve steps this way. A very good refresher 🙏

Chris

April 13, 2023

Glad to have some recovery-based meditations. Thank you for your keen insights!

Eduardo

March 24, 2023

Thank you!

Shemeam

March 10, 2023

by Brian Hyman

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