How It Doesn't Work

A counselor in a treatment program handed me this yesterday. It has no author listed and according to the counselor this information can be used freely. There may be a way to motivate oppositionally defiant with these "opposite 12 steps."

"Rarely have we seen a person recover who has thoroughly tried to fake their way though this program...


"Those who do not make it are people who cannot or will not completely give up their jailhouse ways; usually men who are constitutionally incapable of not acting like criminals. They are unfortunates. They deserve to be incarcerated; they don't think they need to change. They are naturally capable of avoiding any manner of living that requires even one iota of honesty. There chances are not even below average. There are those, too, who don't realize that they have been diagnosed with grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to let go of their criminal thinking.

"Our stories of failures disclose in a confusing way, what we thought they were like, what we said the cops did and what we think the parole board should do. If you have decided to fail and are not willing to make an honest effort- then you are ready to take certain steps.

"Most of these we tried to avoid. we knew we could find an easier softer way. and we kept tring even though we were told we couldn't. With no sincerity in our minds, we urge you to be cowardly and sloppy from the very start. Most of us are holding on to our old ideas and won't let go no matter how negative the results.

"Remember that we deal with the man- cunning, baffling and powerful! With all the help it is too much for us. But there is one who should control all- that one is Self. May you depend on him forever.

"Half measures availed nothing. We avoided the turning point. We refused to ask for protection and care.

"Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of failure:

1. We refused to believe we were powerless and pretended that our lives were very manageable.

2. Refused to believe that a power greater than ourselves existed and felt we had no insanity.

3. Avoided any decision to turn our will and our lives over to anybody.

4. Avoided any searching or realistic inventory of ourselves.

5. Refused to admit to anyone that we had any problems.

6. Never became ready to make any changes.

7. Told others to mind their own business.

8. Forgot anyone we had harmed and realized that we were the real victims.

9. Continued to use such people whenever possible, except when to do so would not yield any profits to us.

10. Continued to avoid any responsibility and promptly blamed others.

11. Sought though pleasure and medication to do whatever we damn well pleased.

12. Having avoided any change as a result of these steps we continued to exploit others and practice these principals in all our criminal affairs."