Step 3

☘️ Step 3: Surrender and Commitment

Official Wording:

"Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him."

💫 What It Means

This step is about consciously choosing to trust the process of recovery and let go of trying to control everything alone. The key isn’t in adopting a specific religion—it’s in defining your personal sense of a guiding force and committing to align with it.

Core ideas include:

• Surrendering to the journey, even without full clarity.

• Allowing something beyond self-will to guide decisions.

• Practicing humility, trust, and willingness to grow.

🌻 Why It Matters

Step 3 moves recovery from thought into action:

• It’s not just about believing—it's about choosing.

• It sets the stage for deeper change by creating space for grace, support, and structure.

• It asks for commitment, not perfection.

✍️ Journaling Prompts

• What would it feel like to let go of control and trust in something greater?

• What does “turning your will over” look like in real life—your choices, habits, routines?

• Who or what do you feel safe placing your trust in?

📝 Sample Journal Entry

Today I made a decision—not a perfect one, but a brave one. I’ve spent so much time gripping tightly to my own plans and fears. But now, I want to let go. I want to believe that a force beyond me—whether it’s love, nature, God, or community—can guide me to a better life. I don’t need to understand everything to start trusting. I just need to begin.

🌊 Emotional Exploration: What Letting Go Really Feels Like

Sometimes letting go can feel like...

• Standing at the edge of a cliff, uncertain if the wind will catch you.

• Laying down an invisible burden you didn’t realize you’d been carrying.

• Finally admitting, “I don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

Try this exercise: Close your eyes and name the feeling you associate with surrender—fear? Peace? Doubt? Relief? Sit with that emotion. Welcome it, like a guest who brings a message.

Now ask yourself:

“What would happen if I gave that feeling space to breathe instead of trying to control it?”

🎨 Visualization: Trust as a Gentle River

Imagine your life as a wide river. You’ve been paddling upstream for years, muscles aching from trying to force progress. Now picture yourself turning the boat around. You loosen your grip on the oars. The river gently carries you forward. You’re still on the journey—but now, you’re aligned with the flow. Trust doesn’t mean drifting aimlessly. It means choosing to be guided.

💬 Affirmation to Carry Forward

“I am not alone in this. I choose to let go of what no longer serves me. I welcome support, grace, and guidance. Each time I surrender, I create space for healing.”