Anger – step 2 of the 12-step program
I want to continue to explore the application of the 12 steps of AA first formulated by Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. in 1934 to deal with anger. Today I want to focus on Step 2: “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity”. The reader will recall that in my discussion of applying step 1 to understanding and letting go of anger, I reminded the reader that if data coming into the brain has enough of an emotional charge, the amygdala may override the cortex sending the data to the limbic system which has little regard for the consequences of ones actions.
Consequently, if one has the habit of getting angry in response to incoming emotionally charged data, changing that habit will be difficult because logic is not available. Something has to interrupt this process. Eventually one may develop the new habit of sending the same data to the cortex where logic based on one’s core values can be applied. In the beginning, just as the alcoholic cannot, by himself or herself make a healthier decision once the addiction is in charge of the brain, the angry person cannot make a healthy decision when the amygdala is in charge. Something or someone outside of oneself needs to help change the habit. Just as alcoholics may come into the 12-step program with a negative reaction to the talk of a higher power, the angry person may bristle at the suggestion of a higher power. For many, the term higher power implies a concept of God. The person might not have a belief in God or the term might have come to mean an angry, punishing being. No one is going to want to turn their anger over to a being who they believe is angrier and meaner than they are! In the 12-step program someone may suggest that the alcoholic just coming into the room of AA think of god as “good orderly direction”. They are suggesting that the alcoholic turn to the group and eventually to a sponsor when they feel like drinking or are faced with other important decisions. The group or the sponsor becomes the source of good orderly direction. Eventually a power greater than oneself may for some people come to mean a concept of a loving God. It may not. This is equally true for the person wanting to reduce or let go of their anger. Changing habits usually require some outside help. That may be a person, a group or a God. It has to be someone who is capable of logically approaching the incoming data and suggesting another way of looking at it.
One may get to the place that much of the time one can can get enough distance to get another view of incoming data. This requires getting to the point where one can accept that when one is feeling anger, it is best to turn to a power greater than oneself to take a larger look at the incoming data that has triggered this angry response. Eventually, some of the time, this may be one’s journal. Other times it is another person, group or higher power.
Written March 5, 2018
I want to continue to explore the application of the 12 steps of AA first formulated by Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. in 1934 to deal with anger. Today I want to focus on Step 2: “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity”. The reader will recall that in my discussion of applying step 1 to understanding and letting go of anger, I reminded the reader that if data coming into the brain has enough of an emotional charge, the amygdala may override the cortex sending the data to the limbic system which has little regard for the consequences of ones actions.
Consequently, if one has the habit of getting angry in response to incoming emotionally charged data, changing that habit will be difficult because logic is not available. Something has to interrupt this process. Eventually one may develop the new habit of sending the same data to the cortex where logic based on one’s core values can be applied. In the beginning, just as the alcoholic cannot, by himself or herself make a healthier decision once the addiction is in charge of the brain, the angry person cannot make a healthy decision when the amygdala is in charge. Something or someone outside of oneself needs to help change the habit. Just as alcoholics may come into the 12-step program with a negative reaction to the talk of a higher power, the angry person may bristle at the suggestion of a higher power. For many, the term higher power implies a concept of God. The person might not have a belief in God or the term might have come to mean an angry, punishing being. No one is going to want to turn their anger over to a being who they believe is angrier and meaner than they are! In the 12-step program someone may suggest that the alcoholic just coming into the room of AA think of god as “good orderly direction”. They are suggesting that the alcoholic turn to the group and eventually to a sponsor when they feel like drinking or are faced with other important decisions. The group or the sponsor becomes the source of good orderly direction. Eventually a power greater than oneself may for some people come to mean a concept of a loving God. It may not. This is equally true for the person wanting to reduce or let go of their anger. Changing habits usually require some outside help. That may be a person, a group or a God. It has to be someone who is capable of logically approaching the incoming data and suggesting another way of looking at it.
One may get to the place that much of the time one can can get enough distance to get another view of incoming data. This requires getting to the point where one can accept that when one is feeling anger, it is best to turn to a power greater than oneself to take a larger look at the incoming data that has triggered this angry response. Eventually, some of the time, this may be one’s journal. Other times it is another person, group or higher power.
Written March 5, 2018
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