Alcohol addiction can bring many people to a place of hopelessness and despair regarding their future. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a worldwide organization that has helped millions of people through a structured program called the 12-Step Program by providing peer support. One of the most encouraging aspects of AA is the list of statements that are commonly referred to as the AA Promises.
The AA Promises refer to the positive changes that many people can have as they are going through the process of recovery, and these statements (AA Promises) help to give hope to those who struggle with addiction after so many years of fighting it. For individuals who are looking for drug rehab or alcohol rehab programs, it will help to understand the AA Promises so they can see a clearer picture of what long-term recovery could look like for them.
What Are the AA Promises? (Alcoholics Anonymous Promises Defined)
There is no formal numbering of AA Promises, but they are listed throughout the AA Big Book, primarily in Chapter 6 (Into Action) of the AA Big Book.[1] As time went on, AA members began to refer to these statements collectively as the Promises, for two reasons: The Promises describe the expected outcomes for people who genuinely and consistently work the 12-Steps.
The Promises follow Step 9, which is about making amends to others for any wrongs we may have done. The Promises are strategically placed after Step 9 for a reason. Once individuals take responsibility for their actions and make amends to others, they may begin to experience the changes described in the Promises by continuing to work the rest of the Steps. While AA does not guarantee these changes, it is commonly reported that many people who go through the AA recovery process experience the AA Promises.
The 12 Promises of AA (With Brief Explanations)
While Alcoholics Anonymous does not officially have the AA Promises as numbered statements, the following 12 statements represent what many people commonly call the AA Promises:
- We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. Many people report feeling relief from the constant, obsessive thoughts about drinking alcohol and now feel unburdened and optimistic about their future.
- We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. Many people who have completed the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous feel they have released much of their shame and guilt around their past.
- We will comprehend the word serenity. Serenity is now a feeling they can feel, rather than just a concept.
- We will know peace. Many people report that managing their feelings becomes easier to endure and that they are often able to maintain emotional balance during even the most difficult challenges.
- No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. When people abandon their drinking and take on recovery, often the painful experiences of their past provide them with an opportunity to offer guidance to others successfully.
- That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. When individuals work the Steps, their feelings of self-worth generally increase as their sense of purpose increases.
- We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Compassion and a sense of connection become the foundation of our being when we lose the feeling of isolation.
- Self-seeking will slip away. Focus shifts from surviving in this world to growing together spiritually.
- Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Alcoholics Anonymous members often say that the energy of hope and resilience becomes alive and present in their lives.
- Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us. As we develop coping skills, our confidence increases in many areas of our lives.
- We will intuitively know how to handle situations that used to baffle us. With the experience and support of others, we will develop a practical understanding of how to live our lives.
- We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. This statement recognizes the spiritual aspect of a higher power and ultimately helps many recover.
The AA Promises listed above are often recited at AA meetings to encourage a great deal of hope and strength in the early stages of recovery and to provide patience through this very challenging and often slow recovery process.
How the AA Promises Relate to Recovery
Psychological Benefits
Freedom from obsession, increased serenity, and reduced self-pity are commonly cited markers of emotional healing. As people remain sober, anxiety and depressive symptoms may lessen, allowing clearer thinking and improved emotional regulation. The broader aims of recovery consistently appear in evidence-based addiction treatment programs and may provide additional context for the AA Promises, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of recovery.
Behavioral Changes
The AA Promises’ statements about reduced selfishness and the way a person looks at life are indicative of significant behavioral changes experienced by those persons engaged in recovery. In addition, by following the steps, many people discover improved accountability, the ability to develop healthier routines, and a variety of coping strategies that support recovery. As a result of enhanced behavioral changes, many people have a greater opportunity for sustaining their sobriety through developing improved resilience to the triggers of relapse.
Social Integration and Purpose
An emphasis on helping one’s fellow man and developing a social connection with other recovering individuals is a strong theme throughout the Alcoholics Anonymous Promises. A greater connection to one’s fellow man will typically make recovery easier to sustain and more likely to include accountability, support, and trust. Therefore, creating peer support systems is essential in maintaining recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.
Spiritual or Meaning-Centered Growth
The spiritual growth aspect of the Alcoholics Anonymous Promises is not a requirement to be part of Alcoholics Anonymous. Many individuals who are with addiction challenges incorporate faith and/or religion into their recovery process. Still, there are just as many individuals who do not follow a religious doctrine and find their spirituality in connecting to their inner self, purpose, or sense of direction. By maintaining a flexible approach to spirituality, the twelve-step program remains accessible to multiple individuals from all walks of life.
Where the Promises Come From
In 1939, at the inception of Alcoholics Anonymous, the “Big Book” was published to document the experiences of early members who had achieved sobriety by working together with other members who had personally committed themselves to the development of a better life. While many members of Alcoholics Anonymous see the Twelve Steps as providing the framework for successful recovery, the AA Promises are listed as an additional support for members after they complete the ninth step of working the Twelve Steps to recovery.
The AA Promises were not created to serve as marketing language but to describe actual observations individuals experienced while consistently practicing the Twelve Steps. The continued relevance of the AA Promises to individuals recovering from addiction speaks to the collective experience of those individuals over successive generations.
Final Thoughts From The Freedom Center
At The Freedom Center in Buckeystown and Gaithersburg, Maryland, we understand that recovery is deeply personal. Whether someone chooses inpatient or outpatient drug and alcohol rehab, the message of the AA Promises is one of hope, growth, and renewed possibilities. Recovery is not about perfection. It is about progress, making connections with others, and learning how to live fully and authentically again.
