AA Slogans and What They Mean

Walk into almost any AA meeting and you'll see them on the walls: framed signs reading One Day at a Time, Easy Does It, Keep It Simple, Live and Let Live. To a newcomer, they can seem corny. People with long sobriety tend to have a different view. In a moment of craving, panic, or anger, a short phrase you can remember is often more useful than a whole chapter you can't.

Here are the most common AA slogans, what they mean, and how people actually use them.

The Classic Slogans

One Day at a Time

The most famous slogan of all. "Never drinking again" is overwhelming. Not drinking today is possible. This slogan shrinks recovery down to a size you can handle. When even a day feels too long, people shrink it further: one hour, or the next five minutes. It also applies to worry. Most of what we dread about the future isn't happening today.

Easy Does It

Many of us are all-or-nothing people. We want to fix everything right away. Easy Does It is a reminder to slow down, avoid overload, and be patient with ourselves and others. It's especially useful in early recovery, when people often try to repair their whole lives in the first month. (Some members joke that it also means "but do it," so it isn't an excuse for doing nothing.)

Keep It Simple

Alcoholic thinking tends to overcomplicate things. Keep It Simple brings us back to basics: don't drink, go to meetings, call your sponsor, work the Steps, help someone else. When life gets confusing, ask what the simplest next step is.

First Things First

Sobriety comes first, because without it nothing else lasts. This slogan helps with priorities. If a choice is between a meeting and something optional, the meeting usually wins. It also helps when we feel swamped: do the most important thing first, then the next.

Live and Let Live

Other people get to live their lives their way. A lot of resentment comes from trying to control what others do. This slogan reminds us to focus on our own side of the street. It doesn't mean tolerating abuse. It means letting go of what isn't ours to manage.

Let Go and Let God

A reminder to do our part and then release the outcome. For members who don't use the word God, it can mean letting go and trusting the process, the group, or the program. It ties directly to Step Three. See Steps 2 and 3.

Think, Think, Think

Often posted upside down as a joke, this slogan asks us to pause before acting. In a moment of temptation, think the drink through to the end. Before reacting in anger, think about the consequences.

Sayings You'll Hear in Meetings

Beyond the official slogans, meetings are full of sayings members pass along. A few of the most useful:

How to Use the Slogans

• Pick one for the day. Choose a slogan in the morning and look for chances to practice it.
• Use them in a crisis. When a craving or a wave of anger hits, a short phrase is easy to remember and repeat.
• Write them down. A note on your mirror, desk, or phone lock screen keeps them in front of you.
• Talk about them. Many discussion meetings use a slogan as the topic. Hearing how others apply it deepens its meaning.
• Pair them with action. The slogans work best alongside meetings, a sponsor, and the Steps, not in place of them.

Common Questions