If you’ve spent any time around an AA meeting or look at the walls in a treatment center, you’ve probably seen short, punchy phrases like “First Things First” or “One Day at a Time.” They might sound like something you’d find on a bumper sticker or a coffee mug, but for millions of people in recovery, these AA slogans have become lifelines to rely on in the struggles life brings.
At first, some people may roll their eyes at them, which makes sense. When you’re hurting or feeling overwhelmed by alcohol addiction,1 a catchy phrase can feel dismissive.
But over time, many come to realize that these sayings aren’t fluff. They’re reminders that carry the weight of lived experience. They’re simple, yes. But they speak to something deep.
Because when your mind is spiraling, your body is anxious, and you’re fighting off the pull of the first drink, you might just need a phrase that cuts through the noise and brings you back to center. Something that is grounding in moments that feel unstable.
These AA slogans are like small handrails on the recovery journey—anchors to grab onto when everything else feels shaky. In this article, we’ll explore 11 of the most well-known AA sayings, what they mean, and why they continue to matter.
What Are AA Slogans?
AA slogans are short, memorable phrases rooted in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.2 They aren’t found in the official 12 Steps or 12 Traditions, but they’ve been passed down through decades of meetings, speaker shares, and conversations between sponsors and sponsees.
Originally popularized by Bill W. and early AA members, these slogans often appear on signs at meetings or in the margins of the Big Book. They’re almost the unofficial language of the AA program.
Their power lies in their simplicity. Each one captures a core truth of addiction recovery in just a few words. They’re easy to remember, which is helpful when your brain feels foggy or your nervous system is overloaded. And they work, in part, because they can be repeated. Over and over. And eventually, they start to take root.
AA Slogans and Why They Work
Each of the following slogans might sound simple on the surface, but beneath that simplicity is a lifetime of practice, pain, and perspective.
We’ll explore not only what these slogans mean, but why they matter. You’ll also see reflections from a therapist’s perspective on how they support the emotional and neurological healing that recovery requires.
1. One Day at a Time
Recovery from alcohol addiction can feel overwhelming if you think too far ahead. This slogan reminds AA members to stay grounded in the present moment. It’s one of the most well-known AA slogans because it focuses on the only thing you can control: today. Just for today, stay sober. Breathe. Begin again.
2. Easy Does It
When you’ve lived in chaos, calm can feel unnatural. This phrase is often heard in AA meetings as a counter to the inner critic that says “hurry up” or “do more.” Easy does it encourages emotional pacing, something often lost in early addiction recovery.
3. First Things First
This slogan helps filter out the noise. In Alcoholics Anonymous, first things first often means putting sobriety ahead of everything else, because without it, everything else crumbles. It’s an anchor in the storm of overthinking.
4. Progress, Not Perfection
The drive for perfection can be paralyzing, especially in early recovery. This slogan, a cornerstone of the 12-Step Recovery, validates the messy middle. You don’t have to do it all perfectly. You just have to keep going. In therapy, we’d call this a shift from all-or-nothing thinking to self-compassionate curiosity.
5. This Too Shall Pass
This phrase offers hope when you’re stuck in shame, grief, or cravings. It’s often repeated in AA meetings as a reminder that feelings are temporary. For someone resisting the first drink, this saying can help create a little distance between urge and action.
Keep Coming Back
This isn’t just a phrase, it’s an invitation. Whether you relapsed, ghosted your sponsor, or are just tired of trying, this slogan reminds you that recovery is a process, not a performance. Keep coming back is about permission to return, even when you feel unworthy.
6. It Works If You Work It
The AA principles don’t just work because they’re printed in the Big Book—they work when practiced. This saying underlines the importance of active participation in the recovery process. Show up. Do the steps. Go to the AA meetings. And when you’re tempted to check out, remember that healing often starts when you engage, even imperfectly.
7. HALT (Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired)
This acronym is pure gold in mental health and recovery work. These four states are high-risk moments for impulsivity, irritability, or relapse. In therapy, we call this emotional hygiene. In AA, HALT is one way to take honest inventory before making choices that could sabotage your better life.
8. Just For Today
This isn’t about denying the big picture—it’s about making it manageable. Just for today invites you to return to the now, especially when cravings, shame, or panic want to pull you into the future.
9. Live and Let Live
Control is a coping strategy—but in recovery, learning to let go is often the bravest thing you can do. Live and let live is about recognizing where your responsibility ends and someone else’s begins. It’s an invitation to surrender the illusion that you can fix, manage, or predict everything.
10. Keep It Simple
Keep it simple is one of those AA sayings that seems obvious—until your mind is racing, your relationships are tense, and you’re trying to solve everything at once. Simplicity helps you find the next right thing, especially when you’re flooded or unsure.
The Psychology Behind Slogans
There’s a reason slogans stick.
Psychologically speaking, repetition rewires the brain.3 Slogans serve as verbal grounding tools—they disrupt spirals of fear, shame, or future-tripping by offering a more stabilizing thought. In clinical terms, they can help regulate the nervous system.
They also appeal to something universal in all of us: the desire for clarity, structure, and hope. In moments of emotional chaos, slogans be like little lanterns. They don’t fix everything, but they light the next step. Most of these phrases don’t even need a further description because you just know what they mean by reading them.
Using AA Slogans in Real Life
These aren’t just sayings for the meeting room, they’re tools you can take with you. You can write them in journals. Put them on sticky notes. Use them as mantras during cravings or conflict.
Here are a few ways you can use slogans:
- As breathing prompts when anxiety or stress comes
- As journal titles to reflect on daily progress
- As reminders during a tough conversation or urge to drink
- As grounding anchors during therapy or addiction treatment
Slogans help you return to something true without needing to sort everything out.
Do I Have to Believe in God to Use These?
Short answer: no.
Some slogans do reference God or a Higher Power, which can be challenging for folks with religious trauma or spiritual hesitation. But AA has long emphasized that your understanding of a Higher Power can be personal. Some people translate “Let Go and Let God” into “Let Go and Let Good.” Others think of God as Good Orderly Direction.
The point isn’t theological precision. It’s surrender. Releasing the need to control what you can’t. Trusting that healing is possible, even if you don’t have it all figured out.
Tools for the Journey
These slogans might seem small, but they can become scaffolding for a better life.
They remind us that healing doesn’t have to be flashy. That you don’t need to have all the answers to stay sober today. That it’s okay to begin again. That recovery is about progress, not perfection.
Whether you’re early in your recovery journey or simply trying to live with more presence and grace, AA slogans are quiet invitations to come back to what matters most.
Just for today, that might be enough.
Ready to strengthen your recovery journey?
AA slogans can be powerful reminders that keep you grounded and focused. If you or a loved one is seeking more support, explore treatment options that combine professional care with proven recovery tools. Find a treatment program near you today.
FAQs
Q: What are AA slogans, and why are they used?
A: AA slogans are short, memorable phrases used in Alcoholics Anonymous4 to reinforce recovery principles and provide emotional grounding. They serve as quick reminders to stay present, let go of control, and focus on progress over perfection. These slogans are rooted in the 12-Step philosophy and help individuals regulate emotions, manage cravings, and reduce stress through repetition and reflection.
Q: Are AA slogans effective in addiction recovery?
A: Yes, many individuals in recovery find AA slogans helpful. Research on cognitive-behavioral approaches in recovery suggests that positive affirmations and cognitive reframing5—both of which slogans promote—can reduce relapse risk and improve emotional regulation.
Q: Can I use AA slogans even if I’m not in a 12-Step program?
A: Absolutely. These slogans offer universally helpful wisdom. Whether or not someone identifies with AA’s spiritual or group structure, the slogans can serve as self-help tools that promote mindfulness, alcohol use disorder treatment, acceptance, and emotional resilience.
Q: What’s the meaning of “One Day at a Time”?
A: “One Day at a Time” encourages people in recovery to stay present and focus only on what they can manage today. This slogan helps reduce overwhelm, especially when thinking about lifelong sobriety feels intimidating. It’s closely related to mindfulness-based relapse prevention strategies, which promote moment-to-moment awareness as a coping skill.
Q: How does “Easy Does It” help in recovery?
A: This slogan reminds individuals not to force solutions or act impulsively. In recovery, slowing down and responding thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally can prevent relapse and reduce stress. The phrase aligns with therapeutic principles of distress tolerance and emotional regulation, such as those found in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Q: What’s the purpose of slogans like “Let Go and Let God”?
A: “Let Go and Let God” encourages surrender—releasing control over things one cannot change. In the AA context, this slogan often reflects a spiritual trust in a higher power. Psychologically, it supports acceptance and reduced rumination, which are key in avoiding relapse triggers.
Q: Is there scientific support for using spiritual or motivational phrases in recovery?
A: Yes. Studies have shown that spiritual practices and positive coping strategies—like prayer, meditation, and reflective mantras—can reduce substance use and improve mental health outcomes in recovery populations.
Q: Do these slogans replace therapy or medication?
A: No, AA slogans are tools—not substitutes—for professional treatment. They’re most effective when used alongside counseling, medication (if needed), and peer support. They can, however, serve as powerful reminders in between therapy sessions or during moments of stress.
Q: How can I remember and apply AA slogans in daily life?
A: Many people write them in journals, post them on mirrors, or repeat them during cravings or stressful moments. They’re designed to be short and sticky so they can be recalled when you need a mental reset.
Q: Are there criticisms of using slogans in recovery?
A: Some critics argue that slogans may oversimplify complex emotional struggles. However, most professionals agree they’re valuable as part of a larger toolkit, especially when paired with structured therapy and peer support networks.
Q: Where can I learn more about AA and the 12 Steps?
A: You can visit the Alcoholics Anonymous official website6 for information about the program, literature, and how to find a meeting.
