Step 1 of Alcoholics Anonymous Explained

In this video, I breakdown my experience with Step 1 of the 12 Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I also use the character "Frank the tank" as an example of powerlessness and unmanageabiltiy.
The First Step of AA: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
We have to truly understand what this means.
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[@thesoberempire]

Follow me instagram here: instagram.com/davidhmasson

[@soberreference2975]

The more I watch this videos, the more I realize and recognize the power of sobriety in my life. Thank you

[@annieso6757]

Powerless is not what I become after I drink. It is what I am always... before I pick up a drink. Therefore I ask the highest power to keep me away from a drink daily. It has worked for more than 13,000 days ty

[@scottconlon5124]

So you are free if you don't return. Return and see what progressive means. Stay free and just listen to understand how fatal a progressive illness is. Like a cancer it has roots. Lays dorment like a volcano. 1 day or a million we got today. 1 too many thousands never enough...just one more day Lord please

[@christiancarrillo5426]

I’m actually looking into getting into an Alcoholics Anonymous. I’m glad I came a cross your videos

[@thesoberempire]

Thats awesome.

[@mikehoncho6460]

Don’t look into it just go. You will be welcomed with open arms. The hardest part is walking through the doors

[@craigfowler7098]

Did you go in the end? I went several times before I finally put the bottle down. Noone ever judged me, they all understood the struggles because they had been there too. Everyone has their first meeting. Good luck on your journey. Love from all in AA.

[@aarongutridge1952]

4 1/2 years sober thanks to AA.

[@flipm6675]

I appreciate the sincerity in this video Brotha. Thank you for the encouraging words.

[@BananaEnvyPodcast]

I’m so glad I found your channel. I started in another 12-step program and I have a hard time getting myself to do step study & I don’t have a sponsor yet, so this is a great way to strengthen my recovery.

[@Robert-fv3vn]

You will suffer more if you keep drinking.

[@josephallio932]

I'm almost 2 years sober. I am just miserable. A dry drunk with a rocky foundation. I go to 2 meetings every day. I study the books. I'm still lost. Thank you for this video, it really had the "me too" effect on me and has helped in my back to basics journey.

[@larryherring445]

I had to get a sponsor to help me go through the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 12 years sober now.

[@chrisbrunelle39]

Definitely get a sponsor who has gone through the steps who will bring you through the steps. Physical sobriety is a great start but it’s just a start. Remember - a broken mind can’t fix a broken mind.

[@BarrrAmundi]

Thank you so much David for making these videos. It will change so many life’s forever. Peace be with you and always

[@powewq1748]

Good video friend... thanks for sharing story

[@davinarue5442]

Sitting here at a sober living program about to speak meet with my sponsor to go over step one came upon this video and just wanted to say thank you for sharing

[@ntebogengarcher6080]

Thank you for sharing your journey. I've lived with alcohol addiction and this is really enlightening to understanding the addiction.

[@freeman7079]

Very clear and concise. You seem like a very intelligent person and I am happy to have stumbled upon your videos.

[@bigslimsanantoniotx6483]

♦️This was so me , 1 days sober❤️

[@AZ-zy8sz]

How is it now? I'm 2 days

[@lukedodge2754]

My man!! I fuckin love what you did with this content!!! 💪🔥

[@steve002025]

Another really good video. Its wonderful to listen to someone who has an in understanding of the solution. When I first came to AA the solution was what was written in the basic text . Over the years some people emphasised "suggested way" and the success rate dropped because the solution changed. As I always like to say when sharing. If you have the illness described in the basic text and use the solution in the basic text to treat it. You can get well. If you change the problem or solution it may not work.

[@scottconlon5124]

Outstanding. Made step one vivid and pure. Outstanding

[@user-xt1nh1oh2c]

The first step in aa started my journey of being alcohol free. On December 12, 2023, I will be alcohol free 30 years. It works if you work it.

[@samsonbreed6049]

Most powerful speech about Alcohol I've ever heard😎👍. It's shocking and comforting at the same time, because it sounds like your describing me when I decide to drink but also comforting and helpful knowing, I'm not the only one who has this problem.

[@craigfowler7098]

Literally millions across the world - you are most definitely not alone. I have been sober now for 18 years and genuinely never felt happier or freer. Best thing I have ever done in my life.

[@mordechai_ben_gershon]

OMG, revelations! My relapse was inevitable, even after 6 years - an external force - desire to please my partner by drinking on holiday with him and doing the club and bar nightly scene with him. I was powerless over alcohol and I was a dry drunk. This video is pure gold.

[@nevillejackson7766]

Excellent video again. Looking back, I think the time that alcohol had the power over me was when I was spending more time in the pub than my actual flat. Took me years to get in to the rooms, though.

[@thesoberempire]

same here. took years. glad you liked the video.

[@TeaPourSixFour]

Thank you David. As I walk with newcomers along their paths I make sure to support each woman in a personal way but also cleave to the book. Today I got to read How It Works in a meeting I don’t usually get to go to out of a study Version of the big book… It has pages on the side to write in. It was powerful to hold it in my hands to read the passages I know so well. It was good for me and others to experience a full 12 hours of AA. Meetings, Service, Fellowship, supporting others via text, seeing sponsor and Sponsees, Listening to Longtimer’s share stories about people they knew and I knew as a teenager.. and now late night in my room chilling with the cat 🐈‍⬛ Still invested in recovery-based extracurricular studies. I think that KZbin audios ( like Talks, channels from therapists & counselors, and passionate survivors like yourself doing amazing education pieces) are good additions for the Newcomer & Anyone even with greater sober time.. I really appreciate in your introduction video to remind those of us in the program to stay true to the way that it was done before. Because it has efficacy and simplicity. I can add a lot of things to my life but if I stick with the basics I’ll never have to redo them.

[@johnbryant6572]

I Dident ever go to work the next day.or pay rent or own anything used to live in the homeless night shelters or sleep outside i.drank every penny I had for 13 years compulsive obsessive drinking getting drunk. homeless hostels soup kitchens and prisons .aged 16 to 27 thank God for a.a.and the inspiring people that helped turn my life around.yeh your spot on with your analasis I thought it was another wally p.clip were all doing it wrong lecture .i should have been dead years ago but I still breath and live.dont drink go to meetings try help others.i have 40 years +sobriety in London.take no coat for your journey.i never had a coat you don't need any material posetions to stay sober or anything else.just the meetings and step one back in 79.nice explanation thanks.

[@case7372]

I voluntarily checked myself into a Windsor laurelwood facility on Monday. I’m a dual substance/mental health PHP patient. I want to be sober and get my life back on track.

[@remains_BS]

Beautiful videos David. Your step 4 one helped me through my inventory and it led to a very beautiful Step 5,6, and 7. I was wondering if you had any plans to make a video on Step 8 and 9? If not, I was wondering if you could share your perspective of what an "amend" is? ie, is it an apology, an attempt to clear the air, a huge gesture....all three? Does it vary case by case? All the best to you.

[@michelelabrie6840]

Thank you for this...... I'm on day one and suffering.

[@budte]

Have you considered doing a video about tradition eleven?

[@gsmack9636]

Thank you for this! I feel some sort of hope now.

[@alexbrauneis6309]

Thank you, very good, it helped me in another program and the importance of Step 1

[@Snapsta123]

Thank you for sharing

[@sixstringblitz100985]

Thank you for this video!!

[@Snapsta123]

Could you do step 2? This was great

[@jimrose71]

GOOD STUFF HERE, YOUNSTER

[@euler2589]

You do a good job in this video.

[@thesoberempire]

Thanks.

[@EthanHarris795]

Thank you for doing this

[@thesoberempire]

You're very welcome.

[@auto-tech-tronics-divtelam8468]

Drinking was not the problem - The soul sickness was !!!

[@dsaints8668]

Spiritual Melody and or internal condition

[@timallsopp9622]

egocentricity is the underlining problem, the egoic world of grandiosity, delusion, falseness etc, the ego believes it knows but it knows nothing, we who unknowingly live as an ego live in pain, fear, after all, all fear stems from, you guessed it, ego. our divine self knows no fear. the pain from lower ego levels such as guilt, shame, anger, desire, envy etc are masked by pride-still ego, for us alcoholics, alcohol stopped the pain, whats left, we feel good, abnormal reaction yes. every step reduces the ego, we all know what e g o stands for, how true it is, as the ego reduces, something else moves in

[@antpearson9676]

I'm on step one. I'm on the verge of losing everything This was a massive help Ant p uk teacher retired

[@joejazzy3588]

thanks powerless over all chemicals and everything else.

[@FIshfood500]

This is great

[@DaddyWarbucksunlimited]

It works if the program of AA is worked properly

[@Jack-il3qv]

The first nine suggested steps will get you sober and the last three suggested steps will keep you sober.

[@patriciamitchell247]

Same! Powerless.

[@JordanCarlin-qy5ed]

What's causing you to think of alcohol though for relief? Is there any trauma/pain that is being suppressed which you haven't dealt with in the past?

[@dsaints8668]

Probably the most important thing I learned .After years stumbling around the 12-step programs was that there is a difference between the program and the fellowship. Learning that what I was hearing in the fellowship was not always the program of alcoholics anonymous. Learning that the fellowship is not going to keep me sober but rather the program. The first 164 pages of the Big book of alcoholics anonymous. I began to hold everything I heard in the fellowship suspect. And now I sell them ever attend an AA meeting. I discovered Chris raymer and the rest is history.

[@thesoberempire]

The fellowship is made of imperfect humans and is therefore not perfect. I continue to be apart of the fellowship to spread the message and find new people to help.

[@dsaints8668]

@@thesoberempire I admire your desire to continue in the program of alcoholics anonymous. Your desire to bring about change in alcoholics anonymous. Where I'm at there are few alcoholics in alcoholics anonymous. The alcoholics are still out there drinking. Because our AA is dominated by hard drinkers people who have found it easier softer way. A spiritual experience is not necessary for them because they're not real alcoholics. So they dominate it and use it as a therapy group. A place where they can stroke their ego has sponsors. Telling people what they should do with their lives. Trying to micromanage people's lives. That kind of behavior is very repelling to the real alcoholic. We naturally rebel we look at it as a cult. That cult like look appearance that alcoholics anonymous gives is repelling.

[@dsaints8668]

@@thesoberempire PS please don't misunderstand me. I love the Big book of alcoholics anonymous and have found guidance to developing a relationship with God. To relieve the spirituality that I've lived with for so long. To me it is the second greatest book ever written.

[@dsaints8668]

I use talk to text so it didn't get what I was trying to say. What I meant to say was the spiritual malady that I've lived with for so long.

[@michellefregeau321]

I love being sober, best wishes to you d.

[@jennifersalas8766]

Thank u

[@socalguy24]

Please explain what we should write about.

[@johnnieharnest8877]

I'm powerless over alcohol, nicotine and highway patrols.

[@mordechai_ben_gershon]

This sobriety is my Step to focus on, as long as it takes. The other 11 can come later!

[@paulgreen4169]

I’m an alcoholic with the mind of a chronic alcoholic my only hope is a spiritual experience how do I attain one of these I’m a Christian but still getting nowhere

[@sailwesterly5444]

Brave soul. You'll be okay. You're so strong.

[@michaelmills7344]

11th tradition?

[@brianbr5388]

Spiritual malady = "I am blocked from the power that can help me."

[@YellowYoshiGamer]

Relapsed after 12 years clean from everything (iv heroin was my doc)

[@user-yo8mo2vy4b]

Happy 24 🙏🏻

[@JFreezePleaze]

Keep making more videos like this.

[@andressoto5278]

My problem is not alcohol, but I do attend another 12 step felowship. I do see the importance of recognizing being powerless over a specific issue. Where I have had trouble is identifying myself as just this one thing, as being sick or broken. Having to state I am an " ________". After a while I began to think this is all I am. It did not help my self esteem and had trouble recognizing the good in me. Do you find it is necessary to label yourself in order to recover?

[@russellperry9902]

You could say , "I am in recovery" though I'd recomen adding the "just for today" after that

[@TeaPourSixFour]

Hi Andres, If it’s helpful for you to re-state step one in a way that you were powerless over fill in the blank and your life has become unmanageable, it can help you get through the block. When I am in meetings or even to my personal self alone at home and I say I’m an alcoholic, it’s not a death sentence. It’s simply a description of how I think and my spirituality. It’s actually a key to unlock freedom. It gets to my innermost self the truth that I am this thing and I have to do something about it. There’s no shame in using a word like addict or alcoholic because it is humbling ( not humiliating) and gives no room for denial.

[@Steven-qd8rdb]

I realized I was an alcoholic when I thought I was in contrl😊😊

[@alexcendejas7691]

I wanted to stop drinking by myself

[@brianmcnellis5512]

There are two subjects in that sentence Did my life become unmanageable because of all that drinking? No.. It was unmanageable at age 6 when bad things happened and I began to think that the problem had to do with those around me and that I was the victim It was an operating system that I created at age 6 and carried through the decades of adult life as a white knuckler until I finally did the steps at age 59 and now I am free

[@craigg6879]

Last person to do videos like this, when back, and committed suicide. He did exact same videos. I mean are you in AA, if so you are not following what you are suppose to. Self will runs riot. No where does it say to write anywhere, for step1. I think you may need to revisit the original 100 people who recovered... Anonymity of the level or Radio, Films and Television.

[@giantsfan9410]

Jesus Christ can set you free