12 SLAA Promises

Last Updated on 26 November 2023

The Promises
If you have decided to follow the suggestions of this program, a new life will begin to unfold within you. Along with this new life are promises that will guide and sustain you. They are manifesting among us, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

We will regain control of our lives.
We will begin to feel dignity and respect for ourselves.
The loneliness will subside and we will begin to enjoy being alone.
We will no longer be plagued by an unceasing sense of longing.
In the company of family and friends, we will be with them in body and mind.
We will pursue interests and activities that we desire for ourselves.
Love will be a committed, thoughtful decision rather than a feeling by which we are overwhelmed.
We will Love and Accept ourselves.
We will relate to others from a state of wholeness.
We will extend ourselves to nurture our own spiritual growth and that of others.
We will make peace with our past and make amends to those we have harmed.
We will be thankful for what has been given us, what has been taken away and what has been left behind.

Draft version of the Promises

Original along the first line (with notes)
New version or original

We will regain control of our lives. (In our active addiction we have not had control – so how do we regain control?)
We will develop a healthy balance: physically, emotionally and spiritually.
We will begin to feel dignity and respect for ourselves.
We will begin to feel dignity and respect for ourselves.
The Loneliness will subside and we will begin to enjoy being alone. (This programs reminds us we are not alone as in our ‘motto line’)
The loneliness & isolation will subside and we will begin to enjoy life when alone.
We will no longer be plagued by an unceasing sense of longing.
We will no longer be plagued by an unceasing sense of longing.
In the company of family and friends, we will be with them in body and mind. (Friends and family does not include romantic partnerships)
We will be present in body and mind in all of our relationships.
We will pursue interests and activities that we desire for ourselves.
We will pursue interests and activities that we desire for ourselves.
Love will be a committed, thoughtful decision rather than a feeling by which we are overwhelmed.
Love will be a committed, thoughtful decision rather than an experience that overwhelms us.
We will Love and Accept ourselves.
We will love and accept ourselves.
We will relate to others from a state of wholeness.
We will relate to others from a place of wholeness.
We will extend ourselves to nurture our own spiritual growth and that of others.
We will nurture our own spiritual growth and extend ourselves to others.
We will make peace with our past and make amends to those we have harmed.
We will make peace with our past and make amends to those we have harmed.
We will be thankful for what has been given us, what has been taken away and what has been left behind.
We will be thankful for what has been given us, what has been taken away, and what has been left behind.