Desiring Sanity

Whatever my faith background, whatever I believed or didn't believe about God, one thing became clear in Al-Anon: I desired increased sanity for myself. I might not agree with everyone's spiritual beliefs. I might define my Higher Power differently than others. But we all shared this fundamental desire—to think more clearly, to respond more sanely, to live with less chaos and more peace.

That common desire united us despite our different beliefs. The atheist, the devout Christian, the Buddhist, the questioning agnostic—we all wanted the same thing. We wanted to stop the insane patterns that weren't working. We wanted to respond to life with wisdom rather than desperation. We wanted our minds back, our peace back, our ability to think clearly back.

This focus on sanity rather than specific religious beliefs made the program accessible to me. I didn't have to adopt anyone else's theology. I didn't have to pretend to believe things I didn't. I just had to want sanity and be willing to work toward it through the Steps. That desire was enough to begin.

The desire for sanity opened me to whatever could help me achieve it—whether I called it God, Higher Power, the group, or the universe. The label mattered less than the sincere longing to be restored to sound thinking and healthy responses. That longing united us all.

Whatever my spiritual beliefs or doubts, I can focus on my desire for increased sanity. Do I want to think more clearly? Respond more calmly? Live with more peace? That desire is enough to work this program, regardless of how I define my Higher Power.