Three Strikes (TSA)
- pancakemarathon
- Jul 5
- 13 min read
step zero
What Brought Us Here
Before we even get to the steps, we pause to acknowledge the space between the strikes and the healing. Step Zero is for those of us who keep circling the question: “What did I even do?”
Why Step Zero?Because before we can work through the steps, we have to get honest about:
The confusion
The unfair labels
The part where we question ourselves daily
The anger of being marked, even when we thought we were doing better — or nothing wrong at all
What Helps Us Stay Out of Stinkin' Thinkin':
Remember: Just because you got labeled doesn’t mean you are that label
You can lose peace fighting for fairness — so we fight for peace instead
Not all strikes are visible — but the invisible ones still weigh on us
We’re not alone in this feeling — this fellowship proves that
What Brought Us to TSA:
Getting rejected, labeled, judged, or dismissed — even after we tried to change
The helpless frustration of not getting a say in how we’re seen
Wanting relief from the mental loop of “I didn’t do anything”
Realizing that even when we mess up, the punishment often outweighs the crime — and sometimes, there wasn’t even a crime
Step Zero Reflection Questions:
What’s one strike or rejection I’ve carried that still confuses me?
How have I been trying to “earn” peace — instead of choosing it?
When do I find myself slipping back into stinkin' thinkin' about my worth?
How can this fellowship help remind me that I’m not my strikes?
12 steps
For those feeling punished, rejected, or labeled — even when they don’t understand what they did wrong.
We admitted we were marked, labeled, or rejected — even if we didn’t understand why.
Came to believe that not everything that happens is fair — but we can still find peace.
Made a decision to stop internalizing blame for things beyond our control.
Made a searching and fearless inventory of the times we’ve been judged or punished unfairly.
Admitted to ourselves, our Higher Power, and another human being the impact these strikes had on us.
Were entirely ready to release the resentment and confusion tied to those strikes.
Humbly asked our Higher Power to help us let go of labels that don’t define us.
Made a list of those whose opinions we’ve let define us, and became willing to detach with love.
Took steps to free ourselves from those definitions where possible, except when doing so would harm ourselves or others.
Continued to recognize when we feel “struck out” — and practiced self-worth regardless.
Sought to improve our understanding that we are more than society’s labels.
Having experienced freedom from false labels, we carry this message to others who feel unjustly marked.
13th Step Safeguard
Beware of turning this program into a victim identity. We recover from the strikes — we don’t live by them. Watch for enabling ourselves or others to stay stuck in resentment instead of seeking healing.
12 Traditions
Our common welfare comes before feeling singled out.
Our ultimate authority is a loving Higher Power, not society’s judgment.
The only requirement is the desire to free ourselves from unjust labels.
Each group may define their recovery from unfair rejection as they see fit.
Our primary purpose is to help those who feel punished without cause.
TSA does not endorse or oppose any outside justice system.
We are self-supporting, rejecting pity or enabling.
TSA is non-professional — we share lived experience, not legal advice.
We may create structure, but our true strength is shared understanding.
TSA takes no opinion on outside strikes — legal, social, or otherwise.
We maintain personal anonymity, focusing on healing, not reputation.
Spiritual growth frees us from needing external approval.
12 Promises
We will no longer live under others’ unfair judgments.
We will reclaim our worth, regardless of strikes against us.
We will find peace even when answers never come.
We will stop defining ourselves by rejection.
We will see that our value cannot be revoked.
We will recognize labels for what they are — not facts.
We will be free to rewrite our own identity.
We will support others navigating unjust strikes.
We will detach from needing everyone’s approval.
We will know serenity even in an unfair world.
We will live with dignity, regardless of misunderstandings.
We will carry the message: “You are not your strikes.”
Slogans
“Struck Out — Still Standing.”
“Three Strikes, Not Out.”
“Labels Don’t Define Me.”
“Their Judgment — My Freedom.”
“Rejected? Redirected.”
“You Can’t Cancel My Worth.”
Acronyms
TSA — Three Strikes Anonymous
STRIKE —
Self-Worth
Trust in Higher Power
Release Resentment
Inner Peace
Knowledge of Self
Empowerment
Serenity Prayer
Higher Power,Grant me the serenity to accept the strikes I never deserved,The courage to release the ones I earned,And the wisdom to know neither defines me.
Help me walk with peace even when judgment follows,Stand with dignity when I feel labeled,And trust that my worth is not measured by their opinion.
Let me stay in my own lane,Let me live beyond the rejection,And let me remember — I am not my strikes.
Additional Prayers
Step 0 Prayer
Higher Power,Help me pause before the work begins,To get honest about what brought me here.
I’ve carried confusion, frustration, and the weight of unfair strikes.I’ve been stuck in the loop of “I didn’t do anything” —And I’m tired.
Before I take another step,Give me the clarity to see that I belong here,The willingness to stay,And the strength to believe I’m more than the labels life has handed me.
Let this be the moment I stop running from the past,And start walking toward peace —One real step at a time.
Step 1 PrayerHigher Power, help me face the truth of the strikes and rejections I carry,Even the ones I don’t understand,So I can begin to heal beyond them.
Step 2 PrayerHelp me believe that peace doesn’t depend on fairness,That even in an unfair world,I can find serenity in Your care.
Step 3 PrayerGrant me the strength to stop carrying their judgments,To hand over the labels and strikes I’ve internalized,And to walk forward, free in Your truth.
Step 4 PrayerGuide me to search my heart with honesty,To see where I’ve been hurt, where I’ve hurt others,And where I still hold onto blame that isn’t mine.
Step 5 PrayerGive me courage to speak the truth to myself, to You, and to someone I trust,So the weight of unspoken pain can finally lift.
Step 6 PrayerMake me ready to let go of resentment, confusion, and self-doubt,Even if it feels familiar — help me choose freedom over suffering.
Step 7 PrayerHumbly, I ask You to lift these false identities from me,The ones stamped on me by others,So I can live as You see me — whole and worthy.
Step 8 PrayerHelp me see clearly who’s held power over my sense of worth,And give me willingness to release their grip on my life.
Step 9 PrayerGuide me as I make peace with those who’ve hurt me — and those I’ve hurt,Without sacrificing my dignity or my recovery.
Step 10 PrayerKeep me aware when I slip into old patterns,Remind me that their judgments don’t define me,And help me return to peace quickly.
Step 11 PrayerDeepen my connection to You,So I can hear Your truth above the noise of rejection,And live with clarity and self-acceptance.
Step 12 PrayerLet my healing be a message to others who feel unfairly marked,Let me carry hope, not bitterness,And may we all remember:We are not our strikes — we are our growth.
What Needs to Be Talked About:
✔️ The Confusion That Comes with Getting Strikes You Don’t Understand
When you truly feel like, “I didn’t do anything…” — but the consequences came anyway.
How to sit with the frustration of not getting answers.
Admitting when the strikes came from old behaviors… but the rejection keeps following long after you changed.
✔️ The Anger and Bitterness That Build from Being Unfairly Marked
It’s okay to talk about the anger.
It’s okay to admit you feel defensive, hurt, or labeled.
But we also talk about how carrying that anger keeps us stuck — and how to start setting it down.
✔️ Self-Doubt and Overthinking: “Did I Deserve This?”
How the mind replays everything, trying to figure out what went wrong.
The exhausting feeling of questioning your every move, long after the strike happened.
How the program helps break that cycle.
✔️ Making Peace Without Fairness
We talk about how peace isn’t about clearing your name — it’s about freeing your heart.
How to stop waiting for apologies, explanations, or for others to change.
Accepting peace, even when the world stays messy.
✔️ Rebuilding Identity Beyond Labels
How to see yourself as more than your strikes, your record, your past.
Practical ways to stay in your own lane and not let society’s judgment steer your life.
✔️ Supporting Others Who Feel Marked
The power of hearing, “You’re not alone.”
How to be present for someone else walking through rejection, shame, or confusion.
Reminding each other: “You are not your strikes.”
How This Program Can Help:
✔️ It Helps You Stop Replaying the PastThis program gives you space to break the mental loop of “What did I even do?” Instead of reliving the strikes over and over, you start focusing on your healing, your growth, and your peace.
✔️ It Teaches You That Peace Isn’t Earned — It’s ChosenYou don’t have to wait for fairness, apologies, or understanding from others to feel peace. TSA helps you practice letting go of what you can’t control and building peace right where you stand.
✔️ It Reminds You: You Are Not Your StrikesThe strikes, labels, or judgments you’ve carried — they don’t define your worth. This program helps you separate who you are from what’s been said about you.
✔️ It Gives You a Fellowship of People Who Get ItThere’s power in knowing you’re not alone. In TSA, you’ll meet others who’ve been marked, rejected, or misunderstood — and together, you build strength and self-respect beyond those experiences.
✔️ It Helps You Reclaim Your LaneTSA teaches you how to stay focused on your own actions, your own growth, and your own peace — instead of constantly swerving into what others think or say about you.
✔️ It Offers Real Tools for Moving On — Not Just Talking About ItThrough steps, prayers, slogans, and reflection, TSA helps you move from stuck and confused… to steady and clear. You don’t just vent — you change, at your own pace.
step work
Step Zero Work — TSA
Before we dive into the Steps, we stop to get honest about how the strikes, labels, and rejections have been affecting us.
Reflection Questions:
1. What’s one strike or rejection I’ve carried that still confuses me?Example: Maybe it was a situation where I got labeled or judged, but to this day I don’t fully understand why. Write it out, even if it feels messy.
2. How has carrying this strike or rejection affected my peace of mind?What thoughts or feelings keep coming back because of this? How has it shaped the way I see myself, or the way I show up in the world?
3. When do I find myself slipping into “stinkin' thinkin'” about my worth?Are there certain situations, people, or even quiet moments where the old judgments creep back in?
4. How has trying to explain or defend myself worked — or not worked — so far?Have I been constantly saying “I didn’t do anything” as a defense? Does it help? Or does it keep me stuck in the loop?
5. How can this fellowship remind me I’m not alone — and that I’m not my strikes?What do I hope to get from this group? What would it feel like to finally set down the labels and just breathe?
Closing Writing Prompt:
Right now, in this moment, I give myself permission to...(Let go? Be confused? Stop fighting? Just be? Write what feels true for you.)
Step 1 Work
We admitted we were marked, labeled, or rejected — even if we didn’t understand why.
Questions:
Where in my life have I felt punished, rejected, or excluded without clear reason?
How has holding on to confusion about these strikes affected me emotionally?
Have I minimized the impact of unfair labels, pretending they don’t hurt?
What feelings come up when I say, “I didn’t do anything”? Is it anger? Sadness? Defensiveness?
Reflection: Admitting the impact doesn’t mean agreeing with the strikes — it means getting honest about how they’ve shaped me, whether I wanted them to or not.
Step 2 Work
Came to believe that not everything that happens is fair — but we can still find peace.
Questions:
Do I believe life has to be fair for me to find peace?
What have I been waiting for — justice? An explanation? An apology?
How might holding out for fairness be keeping me stuck?
What does “peace” look like even if the strikes never get erased?
Reflection: The world may never right every wrong. But peace isn’t earned — it’s chosen, moment by moment.
Step 3 Work
Made a decision to stop internalizing blame for things beyond our control.
Questions:
How have I blamed myself for the strikes, even subtly?
What would it feel like to hand those labels to my Higher Power — and walk away?
Am I willing to stop living like I’m on trial every day?
How can I remind myself: “Their judgment is not my truth”?
Action Idea: Write down the strikes or labels others have placed on me. Physically tear them up, burn them (safely), or hand them to my Higher Power through prayer or ritual.
Want me to continue with Steps 4-6 next?
Let me know — I can keep going one by one or batch them like this.
You said:
Step 1: first question: in the middle of my life when I felt punished for doing a lot of dumb streets because I was getting high. Question 2: I fell Petty about it. Question 3: yes. Question 4: anger and defensiveness.
ChatGPT said:
Perfect — here’s how your Step 1 Work looks written out with your answers woven into it. You can use this as your reflection or writing for your Three Strikes Anonymous (TSA) Step 1:
Step 1 Work — My Reflection
We admitted we were marked, labeled, or rejected — even if we didn’t understand why.
Where in my life have I felt punished, rejected, or excluded without clear reason? In the middle of my life, I felt punished for doing a lot of dumb stuff in the streets because I was getting high. Looking back, I know I made those choices, but the way people labeled me and treated me after that felt like a life sentence — even after I tried to change.
How has holding on to confusion about these strikes affected me emotionally? I’ve felt petty about it. Like… I know I messed up, but the way they hold it over me? It’s made me bitter. Resentful. I carry this little chip on my shoulder, like “Y’all still judging me for that?”
Have I minimized the impact of unfair labels, pretending they don’t hurt? Yes. I play it off like I don’t care — like their words or their rejection don’t get to me. But it does.
What feelings come up when I say, “I didn’t do anything”? Anger and defensiveness. Because deep down, I feel like I paid for what I did… and then some. The extra punishment, the rejection, the labels — that’s the part that makes me angry.
Closing Thought: It’s not about denying my past. It’s about admitting that some of these strikes go beyond what I did — and I don’t have to carry them anymore.
Want to move to Step 2 with your answers next? Or do you want to sit with this one and let me know when you're ready?
You said:
Step 2: question 1: you can find have at any time in your life if you are willing to accept it. Question 2: explanation, I wasn't able to ask about it. Question 3: not letting it go and it is what it is, kind of thing. Question 4: make piece with myself.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s your Step 2 Work — My Reflection, based on your answers for Three Strikes Anonymous (TSA):
Step 2 Work — My Reflection
Came to believe that not everything that happens is fair — but we can still find peace.
Do I believe life has to be fair for me to find peace? No — I believe you can find peace at any time in your life if you’re willing to accept it. It’s not about everything lining up fair — it’s about letting yourself be at peace with what is.
What have I been waiting for — justice? An explanation? An apology? An explanation. I wasn’t able to ask about it. I didn’t get the chance to speak my side or understand why certain things happened the way they did.
How might holding out for fairness be keeping me stuck? By not letting it go. It’s like I’ve been stuck in that “it is what it is” mindset — but not in a peaceful way. More like stuck, not moving, holding on even when it’s weighing me down.
What does “peace” look like even if the strikes never get erased? It means making peace with myself. Accepting that the world might not take the labels off me — but I can take their weight off my own back. I can’t control what they think, but I can stop carrying their judgment.
Closing Thought: Peace doesn’t show up because the world got fair — it shows up because I decided to stop fighting myself over things I can’t control.
Want to roll into Step 3 now with your answers? Or you wanna pause and sit with this one for a minute?
You said:
Step 3: question 1: by saying I did do anything. Question 2: relief. Question 3: yes. Question 4: staying in my own lane.
ChatGPT said:
Here’s your Step 3 Work — My Reflection, for Three Strikes Anonymous (TSA), based on your answers:
Step 3 Work — My Reflection
Made a decision to stop internalizing blame for things beyond our control.
How have I blamed myself for the strikes, even subtly? By constantly saying, “I didn’t do anything.” It seems harmless, but deep down it shows I’m still stuck in that loop — trying to convince myself, or maybe them, that I don’t deserve this. But just saying it over and over keeps me tangled up in the blame game, whether it’s aimed at me or them.
What would it feel like to hand those labels to my Higher Power — and walk away? Relief. Like dropping a heavy backpack I’ve been carrying for miles. Letting my Higher Power deal with the weight of other people’s judgments feels freeing.
Am I willing to stop living like I’m on trial every day? Yes. It’s exhausting always defending myself, even silently in my head. I’m ready to live beyond that.
How can I remind myself: “Their judgment is not my truth”? By staying in my own lane. Focusing on what I can control — my actions, my peace, my growth. Not swerving into their opinions or letting their judgments drive my life.
Closing Thought:
I don’t need to prove myself to people stuck on my past. I prove it by living free — staying in my lane, walking my truth, and letting my Higher Power handle the rest.
Categorized
Primary Category: 🧍♂️ Identity & Acceptance Why: This program speaks to reclaiming identity after unjust labels, rejections, or misunderstandings — building self-worth that isn’t dependent on external validation.
Also Fits:
💬 Relational & Social Dynamics — Because unfair strikes often come from social, legal, or relational situations.
☂️ Existential & Symbolic — The “three strikes” can feel like a metaphor for life’s unfair judgments — this program challenges that narrative.
Alternative Program Name Ideas
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