Traditional EDA/AA 12 Step Language for Step 2: Came to believe that a Higher Power could restore us to sanity.

Charlotte Kasl writes that the most imporant elements of step two are “hope, faith, and developing strength.” She writes, “When we’re about to give up an addiction or dependency, it sometimes feels as if we’re sitting at the edge of a cliff, being urged to jump. It seems impossible to imagine how we could live life without the addiction [or eating disorder] — that protective shield that felt like a best friend — and return to life with all its pain and struggle. A way to help us take the leap is with the belief that there’s something better, another way, and we can find it. It helps to realize we don’t have to do it alone because there exists another power bigger than the addiction [eating disorder] that will replace the addiction [eating disorder].” Kasl points to love and truth as overarching powers that can replace addictions or dependencies or eating disorders.

She also notes that whatever power we want to replace our eating disorders, it is important that we make authentic contact with beings outside of ourselves. Loving and affirming connections to other humans, animals, nature allow us to feel fully accepted as our our true selves and increase our ability to connect to our own inner wisdom and voice. She writes about the image of “being restored to ourselves.” If our eating disorders are a journey away from our authentic selves, recovery is our journey home.

Writing you own Step 2 language.

Some potential alternatives to Step 2 are:

• Came to believe that opening ourselves up to the universe and the world around us will awaken the healing wisdom within us.
• Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves and within ourselves can restore our balance.
• Came to believe that opening myself to loving connections with the world and beings around me will strengthen my own power to heal.
• Came to believe that by accepting my truths, I will return to my most whole self.
• Came to understand that when I stay isolated, I give my eating disorder more power in my life.
• Came to believe that I connect with my authentic self when I am aligning my actions with a higher good.
• Came to believe there was hope for recovery from an eating disorder.
• Came to understand that I feel more grounded when I put my trust in the healing forces of nature instead of my eating disorder.
• Came to realize that my love for music and art is sustaining and motivating in recovery.
• Came to trust that I will prioritize serving a higher purpose over my eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.
• Came to realize that there is a wise part of myself that deeply wants recovery and a meaningful life.
• Came to realize that I have a wisdom that is more trustworthy than my eating disorder.
• Came to believe that I have the power to provide myself the loving adult I needed when I was growing up.
• Came to believe that I build trust with myself when I seek authentic connection with others/community/nature/animals/etc.
• Came to believe that my love and connection to art/music/literature/poetry/etc is sustaining and can guide me on my recovery journey.
• Came to experience faith in my own willingness to do whatever it takes to recover from an eating disorder.