Step 11 is another of the maintenance Steps. In the first three steps we commit to turning away from our addictive and unhealthy behavior. In Steps 4 through 9 we learn how to deal with our past. In the maintenance steps we are focusing on our present. Most of us have at least an elementaryContinue reading “Step 11 – Part 1”
Tag Archives: recovery
12 Steps – Step 10
“We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” Recently, someone told me that they are a big believer in the 12 Steps. They went on to say that they worked through the 12 Steps a few years ago. I would argue that they aren’t really a believer in theContinue reading “12 Steps – Step 10”
12 Steps – Step 9b
I want to come back to Step 9 this week to complete my thoughts and wrap things up. This Step instructs us to make amends when doing so won’t cause greater harm. How do we decide when that’s the case and what do we do in those instances? I return to what I said severalContinue reading “12 Steps – Step 9b”
12 Steps – Part 9
“We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” Making amends should always be done under the supervision of a sponsor. In Step 8 we became willing to make amends all persons we had harmed. That willingness is a must but, as we move forwardContinue reading “12 Steps – Part 9”
12 Steps – Part 8
Step 8 says, “We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.” Where does this list of persons we have harmed come from? If we have worked Step 4 as directed in The Big Book and with a sponsor, then we have reviewed our resentments,Continue reading “12 Steps – Part 8”
12 Steps – Part 7
12 Steps – Part 6
Step 6 states, “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” Like the other Steps, this one generated fear in me when I first looked at it and considered what it meant. I had tried many times to change my behavior and I had failed miserably. How was this time goingContinue reading “12 Steps – Part 6”
12 Steps – Part 5
In Step 5 we are instructed to admit our wrongs to God, ourselves and to another person. All three of these admissions can be a struggle for me. If I admit a wrong to God I am in essence, reaffirming the decision I made in Step 3 to turn my will and life over toContinue reading “12 Steps – Part 5”
12 Steps – Part 4
Step 4 can be intimidating. There are several prayers associated with Step 4 but the one that I think kind of sums up the Step begins with, I have made my life a mess and I can’t undo it. It goes on to say, I will write down my wrongs, but also those things thatContinue reading “12 Steps – Part 4”
12 Steps – Part 3
This week I want to take a look at Step 3. Steps 1 through 3 are referred to as decision steps. In these Steps we admit, we believe, and then we decide. When I was about 30 I was a counselor and then the director or a treatment program. In those roles I walked menContinue reading “12 Steps – Part 3”