The 12th step of the 12 steps of AA, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs" is narrowly defined as helping other alcoholics to see the light, and helping them using the knowledge you have gained to better their own lives, and their own addictions.

But even if you do not subscribe to the AA methodology of recovery, the essential meaning behind the principle assists anyone in a battle with sobriety. Essentially, once you have achieved a goal of sobriety, you have a duty to help others achieve their goals of a better life.

All of us who have spent time as alcoholics or drug addicts have acted in ways that created harm to the people and the communities around us, and all of us have some responsibility to take steps to erase some of the harms we have done by giving back.

You need not necessarily give only through helping other addicts to overcome addictions, although that is a very worthy task, but in any way that benefits the community as a whole. You also need to act altruistically, without thought of personal gain, and only motivated through assistance to others.

Of course although you need to act out of a concern and motivation for others, as you give, you also get, and those people who take the time after sobriety to ensure that they give generously back to the community are far more likely to remain sober.

Volunteer your time 3 ways it helps keep you sober

Meaningful acts

1) Volunteering to help those in need always gives meaning to our lives, and by extension to our sobriety. Knowing that others rely on our wisdom and assistance can give incentive against temptations, and strengthen us in our personal battles with an addiction.

Time away from temptation

2) When you're helping, you're not drinking. One of the greatest threats to initial sobriety is free time. Most of us entering into sobriety after a long history of addiction have forgotten how to have fun, and how to fill the hours without getting drunk or getting high.

And although most people come to love the clarity and bodily health of sobriety, there are always moments of boredom that threaten our will and our commitment, and enough boredom is a significant predictor of relapse.

Keep busy by getting involved in a charity or organization meaningful to you, and feel better as you fill your time with worthwhile activities…activities that keep you too busy to think too much about getting back to use and abuse.

Sober friendships

3) Benefit from a sober friendship support network. In addition to not knowing how to fill free time without using, a lot of us come out of rehab knowing we can no longer spend time with abusing friends, but not really having any other replacement friends for companionship. Loneliness does influence relapse, and a great way to get out and meet sober living people is through the act of volunteering your time.

The people volunteering in the community are a source of sober and supportive friendships, and these people are ready and wanting to meet and work with you for the common good. Never let loneliness trigger despair, your next sober friend is as close as the local good cause.

Do good, stay sober…what more can you ask for?