What is the Stoic Higher Power in AA Step 2?

Welcome to Step 2 of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). In Step 1, we admitted our powerlessness over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable. The focus of Step 1 was to be honest with ourselves and surrender. Step 2 reads, “We came to be aware that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Working on this step offers us a path from hopelessness to hope.

This involves letting go of our ego and believing that a power greater than ourselves will help us achieve and maintain sobriety. A paragraph in Chapter 5 of the AA Big Book describes our actions while drinking as a “self-will run riot.” As we take this step, we distance ourselves from that self-will and seek external power to restore our sanity.

The Stoic Definition of Sanity: In recovery, sanity is the alignment of the Hegemonikon (your ruling faculty) with Logos (the rational order of reality). Insanity is the attempt to control external events through self-will.

Stoicism’s teachings emphasize rational thinking, acceptance, and living in harmony with the natural order. We will explore how these teachings can deepen our understanding of how to approach Step 2 with both faith and reason.

How Does Stoicism Translate “Restoring Sanity” into Logic?

AA says: “Restore us to sanity.”

Stoicism says: “Restore our Ruling Faculty (Hegemonikon) to alignment with Nature (Logos).” For the Stoics, Hegemonikon is the part of the mind that is responsible for processing information and making decisions. While we receive many “impressions” from the world around us, the Hegemonikon acts as the filter and the judge, determining how we react to those impressions.

Impressions are anything that may happen to us in a day. Stubbing our toe, getting stuck in traffic, having a conversation with someone or literally anything we encounter in a day where our minds need to process it and determine what we should do, how we should feel, etc.

Why is Logos a Valid Higher Power for Agnostics in Recovery?

A higher power serves as a source of guidance, support, and inspiration for making the changes in our lives we need to maintain sobriety. When we struggle, a higher power gives us a source of strength to tap into. We need to find a power greater than ourselves that we can have faith in to restore the sanity we lost in the grip of our ego and self-reliance.

The Stoics called it logos—the rational order woven into everything, the reason the seasons turn and wounds heal and chaos eventually settles into pattern. Not a God you petition. Not a force you bargain with. Something more like a current running through all things, including you, whether you acknowledge it or not. Surrendering to logos wasn’t an act of defeat—it was the recognition that you were already part of something larger and more intelligent than your own anxious planning. You don’t have to believe in it. It’s operating anyway.

A brilliant part of the 12-step program’s design is that a higher power can be defined in a way that resonates with us. It’s not necessarily tied to a specific religious deity or doctrine. This could be a traditional understanding of God, a spiritual force, nature, the collective wisdom of the AA group, or even a concept like love or goodness. The essence of a Higher Power in AA lies in recognizing something more significant than oneself, a source of strength, guidance, and support that can help us overcome addiction and find lasting recovery.

I have heard many criticisms of 12-step programs emphasizing God or a higher power too much. This makes some uncomfortable as they might associate the program with a traditional organized religion. Here, we will take a deeper dive to dispel those concerns because we have complete control over defining the higher power we choose to assist us in our journey. For example, I have used the group’s collective strength and a general belief that there is some more significant force in the universe than I. Additionally, I have used philosophy as a guiding light in my journey.

Many, without a more profound understanding, automatically dismiss AA as a religious program and use that as a barrier to trying our way of life. The word God automatically raises the defenses of many, and I was included in that group early in my recovery. I needed to dig under the covers and determine if a single word, “God,” would keep me from practicing a program utilized by millions to find a better life.

With deep reflection and the help of the fellowship, it became clear that I could substitute anything I wanted when the word God is used in literature or discussions. For example, in Step 3, I can read and apply it as I decide to turn my will and life over to the care of my AA home group and sponsor. I choose what God means to me as I work on our life-changing program.

If, after studying the flexibility of this step, one is still hung up on AA being a religious program, there may be some deeper resistance to working the program. It is often said that this is not a program for those who need it but for those who want it. The truth is, there is room in the program for everyone, including atheists and agnostics. Chapter 4, “We Agnostics,” in the A.A. Big Book covers this topic well. I suggest a deep study of the chapter for anyone struggling with Step 2. 

How Does Stoic Philosophy Compare to Step 2 Recovery Principles?

Practical Guidance for Working Step

Once again, this step does not dictate a specific belief system. Instead, it invites us to explore what “greater than ourselves” means in our personal context. Many already have established their higher powers through a religion, other spiritual belief systems, or a philosophy, so everyone may not need this section. Congratulations if you have already chosen a higher power!

Here are some ways to approach this exploration if you are seeking a personal higher power:

1. Reflect on past experiences: Think about moments when you felt connected to something larger than yourself, such as the beauty of nature, the power of love, or the support of others. I quickly recognized the power and strength in the fellowship and chose it as my higher power.

2. Experiment with openness and asking: Even if you feel skeptical, try imagining what a higher power might look like for you. One can sit in a quiet room and ask for help. We do not have to ask anything or anyone specifically. Saying, “I need to find a higher power, and I do not know where to start. I am open-minded, and any guidance would be greatly appreciated.” Planting and tending to this seed can lead you to an answer.

3. Remember, Recovery is a journey: Our thoughts and beliefs change as we grow and learn to live sober. Choosing a higher power does not need to be a one-time, forever decision. We can find something to believe in and lean on in early recovery and not close the door to further exploration and changes in the future.

4. Belief often grows through action: Taking small, intentional steps can help cultivate trust in a Higher Power. One action we can take is to attend meetings regularly. Listening to others’ stories of transformation can inspire hope and reinforce the idea of something greater at work. We might try attending some different religious services to see if anything resonates. Lastly, we have the internet at our fingertips to research anything interesting.

Overcoming Prejudice: The Stoic Virtue of Truth

Many people struggle with Step 2 because of doubts, fears, or misconceptions about faith. If we spend the time and effort to overcome these barriers with humility and open-mindedness, we can build a strong foundation for recovery. Although I stay sober one day at a time, I need to keep in mind that I want my sobriety to be long-term, and my future self will appreciate the hard work I do today.

Bill W. often reassured skeptics by emphasizing that belief could grow gradually. He said, “Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you.” Bill encourages us to take small steps toward belief and that there is no need to feel pressured.

Stoicism also values openness to new ideas and regularly challenges our thinking. Marcus Aurelius wrote, “If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth.” Being open and willing to change one’s perspective is essential for embracing Step 2.

Conclusion

Step 2 of Alcoholics Anonymous is about opening our minds to the possibility of help, change, and a new way of life. By embracing faith, we can move from chaos to sanity as we begin the recovery journey. Lacking a higher power, we are left with the self-reliance and stinking thinking that kept us in the grips of addiction.

Einstein gave us the following gem: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Change, especially for us with substance abuse disorders, is critical.

The teachings of Stoicism emphasize reliance on a higher power for guidance in our lives, focusing on humility and the importance of aligning with a greater order. As Marcus Aurelius wisely said, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” Step 2 invites us to find that strength by trusting in a Power greater than ourselves.

Ready to move forward? Go To Step 3

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can an atheist do Step 2? Yes. Step 2 requires a belief in a “Power greater than yourself,” not necessarily a god. An atheist can use the AA Group (a collection of people stronger than one individual), the laws of nature, or the concept of “Love” as their higher power.

What is the Stoic view of God? Stoics believed in the “Logos”—a rational, organizing force of the universe. They did not view God as a bearded man in the sky but as the very nature of reality itself. Living in accordance with the Logos is similar to doing God’s will in AA.

How does Step 2 restore sanity? In AA, “insanity” isn’t clinical psychosis; it is the inability to see the truth about one’s drinking. Step 2 restores sanity by breaking the isolation of the ego and allowing new information (from the group or a higher power) to guide decisions.