What we are talking about this month

Step 3

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

In March at The Men’s Home, we focus on Step 3. This step centers on a decision; not a feeling, not a dramatic moment, but a choice.

Step 3 asks a practical question: Are we willing to stop relying only on ourselves? For many, that means recognizing that self-will alone has not worked. It means becoming willing to trust something greater than our own impulses, fear, or pride.

As the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions explains, the effectiveness of the program depends largely on how honestly we make this decision. It does not require certainty. It requires willingness.

” The willingness to give up my pride and self-will to a Power greater than myself has proved to be the only ingredient necessary to solve all my problems today. Even the smallest amount of willingness, if sincere, is sufficient to allow God to enter and take control over any problem, pain, or obsession. My level of comfort is in direct relation to the degree of willingness I possess at any given moment to give up my self-will, and allow God’s will to be manifested in my life. With the key of willingness, my worries and fears are powerfully transformed into serenity.” Daily Reflections, p. 75

The Daily Reflections reminds us that even a small amount of sincere willingness can begin to shift how we respond to problems, pressure, and fear. This step shows up in daily choices; pausing before reacting, asking for guidance, and choosing humility over control.

Step 3 is not about losing independence. It is about gaining stability. It is about moving forward with structure instead of impulse.