How Helpful are Those Step Programs?

Step programs can look so attractive. They promise that they will deliver nothing less than the world, if you will only adhere to all the steps of their program. There are step programs to cure everything from alcohol addiction to cigarette addiction to over-eating. There are even step programs designed for adults who were abused when they were growing up.

This writer has looked at a number of these programs and has come away from her experience feeling that the cure for people’s lives and experiences seldom fits neatly into any one series of steps. We know that we are each unique, with our own strengths and weaknesses. We would all of us no more fit into the same sort of step program any more than we would all fit into the same size shoes.

The belief that when you are ready, the teacher you need on your spiritual journey—and life is nothing if it is not a spiritual journey—will come to you. However most of us forget that the teacher is within. God speaks with each of us individually, guiding us, if we would only listen. But instead we feed our emptiness by running to first one so called teacher and then another, looking for the solution for the pains of being alive. It is a mad pursuit, for the answer really isn’t out there, it is within. And, we do know what it is, if only we could keep track of it and if only we could figure out what to do with it, or which question the answer solves!

The reason these step programs never seem to fit is because not only are we not already perfect, but the programs were made by imperfect people who were still searching for the answers themselves. Or, they may have glimpsed the best way to achieve peace and satisfaction in their lives, but their vision is limited by their circumstances.

If I were to establish a step program designed to ease the problems you are dealing with, I might begin by saying:

1 - Learn the art of meditation in whatever sort of flavor suits you the most perfectly and practice that meditation every day. You see, at different times in your life, you may be ready for different sorts of meditation, and I cannot tell you which one is best for you.

2 - Learn to think analytically. Isn’t that a lovely piece of advice? But the truth is, when you can understand the various components of the situations that are making your life difficult, you can begin to see constructive ways to deal with them.

3 - Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Yes, it is true that there have been times in our lives when no help was available anywhere, even though we did ask, and ask. However, you will not find anyone who does want to work with you until you look.

4 - Never be ashamed of yourself. This is the most important one of all. Never be ashamed of yourself. You are who and what God made you, unique and gifted, and you cannot build a good life on a foundation that you are ashamed of.