In thinking about the twelve Step, working with others, the Twelfth Step can be subdivided into five parts, five words beginning with the letter C, confidence, confession, conviction, conversion, and continuance.
The first part in trying to help another alcoholic is to get their confidence. We do this by telling them our own experience with drinking, so that they can see that we know what we're talking about. If we share our experience frankly, they will know we are sincerely trying to help them. They will realize they are not alone, that, others have had experience as bad or worse than their's. This gives them confidence that they can be helped. THAT WHICH COMES FROM THE HEART REACHES THE HEART. We must show that we really care about them if we are going to get their confidence.
The second part is confession. By frankly sharing with them, we get them talking about their own experiences. They will open up and confess things to us that they haven't been able to tell other people. And they feel better when this confession has gotten these things off their chest.
The third part is conviction. They must be convinced that they honesty want to quit drinking. They must see and admit that they're definitely an alcoholic. They must face the fact that they must spend the rest of their lives, ONE DAY AT A TIME, with out liquor. They must be absolutely honest with themselves and face themselves at they really are. They must be convinced that they must give up drinking for good, ONE DAY AT A TIME, and they must see that their whole lives depend on this conviction.
The fourth part is conversion. Conversion means change. They must change their way of thinking. Up till now, everything they have done has been connected with drinking. Now they must face a new kind of life, without liquor. They must see and admit that they cannot overcome drinking by their own will-power, so they must turn to a Higher Power for help. They must learn to start their day by asking this Higher Power for the strength to keep sober for the next twenty-four hours. This conversion to belief in a Higher Power comes gradually, as they try and find it works.
The fifth and last step is continuance. Continence means our staying with them. We must stick with them and not let them down. We must encourage them to come to meetings regularly for fellowship and help. They will learn that keeping sober is a lot easier in the fellowship of others who are trying to do the same thing. Whenever they slip or not, we must continue to help them, by going to see them or telephoning them or writing them, so that they don't get out touch of others.
An understanding of these five parts of the Twelfth Step will help us in the process or helping others and for keeping us sober.