ACA WSO

10/24/2026

Step Two

“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” BRB p. 130

Many of us have never known what sanity is, and the very word can set us on edge. We know everything that sanity is not, because that’s how we grew up. We think, “How can I be restored to a state I’ve never experienced? If this Step is about restoration, maybe ACA isn’t for me.” This thinking might have moved us to walk away before we invested any hope in the process.

But we were fortunate enough to hear from others who take a more gentle perspective. They say, “Calm down. Try not to jump to conclusions too soon. Some of us had the same thoughts and feelings as you.” They suggest that coming to believe in a Higher Power of our own choosing and working the Steps can give us the promise of a new life, one free of the character defects that have kept us from living purposefully. They assure us that the program and their Higher Power have worked miracles in their lives.

This feels comforting and helps us see that we are where we belong. We change our perspective and come to believe, act, and feel…sane. For many of us, sanity simply means peace of mind, which we gratefully welcome.

On this day I recognize that the insanity in my life was rooted in the dysfunction of my childhood. It no longer has the same hold over me because peace and serenity are what I focus on as I experience recovery.

© COPYRIGHT ACA WSO INC.

10/23/2026

Safety

Our meetings offer a safe environment for adult children to share their common experiences.” BRB p. 333

Because of the many kinds of abuse and/or neglect we’ve experienced, both as children and adults, it is a huge issue for us to be able to connect with ourselves, other adult children, and a Higher Power.

We can begin by just showing up at ACA meetings. We are not forced to share; the choice is ours. We work at our own pace, perhaps just observing and getting a feel for things. And when we are ready, we can begin to absorb and actually work the ACA program.

As we break out of isolation, we realize we are not alone. We start working the Steps and understanding the Traditions. We may use the tool of journaling as a way to uncover what’s going on for us. But however we do things, we let the ACA program, other people, and our Higher Power into our lives.

There is no special order to how things have to work. We are unique, and we do recovery in the way that works best for us. It’s only important that we do it, because we deserve the safe, healthy connections that are now available to us.

On this day I know that my meetings provide the safety that helps me continue my personal growth.

© COPYRIGHT ACA WSO INC.

10/22/2026

We’ve launched a series of blog posts written by anonymous ACA members for you to read. Each week we have a new submission that covers the teachings of ACA.
Read the full blog post here: https://tinyurl.com/3m88yb57
Want to submit an article of your own? Learn about our submission requirements here: https://tinyurl.com/rx8zcu2c

10/22/2026

Grief

“ACA meetings can unlock the grief that has not been addressed for years.” BRB p. 68

The thought of doing grief or loss work doesn’t sound inviting. It sounds as if we are going to a funeral. There’s a deep sense of sadness just thinking about it. But when we review our childhoods, we realize that our sadness is actually waiting for an opportunity to be expressed.

In meetings we witness strong survivors of family alcoholism and other dysfunction as they visit their childhood funerals. We hear them share the current effects of their harrowing childhood experiences. This helps many of us to start recalling the events that led to the feelings we have had of a continuous sense of loss.

As we keep coming back, our memories and feelings keep coming back also – sometimes gradually, sometimes haltingly. But they do come if we are consistent in our meeting attendance. This is where we find the space to express the grief of our childhood losses. It’s where we learn to heal after years of denying our feelings.

On this day I will remember that it’s important for me to share my memories in order to heal. It also allows me to connect with others who have had similar experiences.

© COPYRIGHT ACA WSO INC.

10/21/2026

ACA provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment that allows us to grieve our childhoods and conduct an honest inventory of ourselves and our family—so we may (i) identify and heal core trauma, (ii) experience freedom from shame and abandonment, and (iii) become our own loving parents.

If you feel ACA is right for you, head to our website to learn more. You can start here: https://tinyurl.com/y8etfz2r

10/21/2026

Patience

10/20/2026

Who tells us each day whether we live up to a standard?

Who lies awake each night running over the "could haves" or "should haves" for the day or for days gone by?

We weren't born with shame; it was instilled in us. We had no experience to measure or reject that shame when we were children, so we had to accept it. But who is keeping that shame alive in us today?

It's our inner critic that reflects the negative voices from our past. But we now have the choice to change that voice - to live life on our own terms and bury the "could haves" and "should haves." We are no longer required to listen to the messages that keep shame alive in our everyday thoughts.

Who puts a value on us if we do not value ourselves?

In ACA, we are accepted for who we are. We join together, not to bemoan our imperfections, but to find "the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that one is me.*" Our strength in numbers gives us that courage and assures us that we are now and always have been valued human beings.

On this day I look at myself through the eyes of my fellow ACAs and my Higher Power. Instead of listening to my inner critic, I believe what they say - that I am valued.

The excerpt in this caption is from Daily Affirmations: Strengthening My Recovery.
Get your copy here: https://tinyurl.com/2vy873ff

10/20/2026

Relationships

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

Effort