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12 steps              12 traditions            12 promises

The Twelve steps of Codependents Anonymous

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  1. We admitted we were powerless over others – that our lives had become unmanageable.

  2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

  3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.

  4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

  5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

  6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

  7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.

  8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

  9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

  10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

  11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

  12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other codependents, and to practice
    these principles in all our affairs.

The Twelve Traditions of Codependents Anonymous

 

  1. Our common well-being must come first: personal recovery depends on unity in CoDA.

  2. We recognize in our group only one ultimate authority: a loving God, as He reveals Himself in our Group conscience. Our leaders are dedicated servants, they do not govern.

  3. The only requirement for CoDA membership is the desire for healthy relationships with ourselves and with others.

  4. Each group must be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CoDA as a whole.

  5. Each group has only one primary purpose – to carry its message to the codependent who still suffers.

  6. A CoDA group must never endorse, finance or associate the CoDA name with any outside relationship or initiative, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

  7. Each CoDA group must be fully self-supporting and reject outside contributions.

  8. CoDA must always remain non-professional, but our service centers may employ special employees.

  9. CoDA as such should never be organized, but we may establish service boards or committees directly accountable to those they serve.

  10. Co-Dependents Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the CoDA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

  11. Our publicity policy is based more on attraction than on advertising: we must always maintain our personal anonymity in relation to the press, radio and television.

  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions: it reminds us to put principles before personalities.

The Twelve Promises of Co-dependents Anonymous​

 

I can expect a miraculous change in my life by working the program of Co-Dependents Anonymous. As I make an honest effort to work the Twelve Steps and follow the Twelve Traditions…
 

  1. I know a new sense of belonging. The feeling of emptiness and loneliness will disappear.

  2. I am no longer controlled by my fears. I overcome my fears and act with courage, integrity and dignity.​

  3.  I know a new freedom.

  4. I release myself from worry, guilt, and regret about my past and present. I am aware enough not to repeat it.

  5. I know a new love and acceptance of myself and others. I feel genuinely lovable, loving and loved.

  6. I learn to see myself as equal to others. My new and renewed relationships are all with equal partners.

  7. I am capable of developing and maintaining healthy and loving relationships. The need to control and manipulate others will disappear as I learn to trust those who are trustworthy.

  8. I learn that it is possible to mend – to become more loving, intimate and supportive. I have the choice of communicating with my family in a way which is safe for me and respectful of them.

  9. I acknowledge that I am a unique and precious creation.

  10. I no longer need to rely solely on others to provide my sense of worth.

  11. I trust the guidance I receive from my Higher Power and come to believe in my own capabilities.

  12. I gradually experience serenity, strength, and spiritual growth in my daily life.

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