It’s the point where we acknowledge that our behaviors damage others beyond ourselves. But to rectify this damage, we can’t maintain the same “me first” attitude that many of the other steps require. Challenges and setbacks are common in the process of the 9th step. It’s not unusual to face disappointing outcomes, including rejection. Some may not be ready to accept amends, leading to potential rejection or disappointment. This can be disheartening, but it’s important to practice patience and persistence, as making amends is often a gradual process.
Listen and Validate
Only make amends when you truly understand the situation and when you feel a sincere call for atonement. For, it is with this momentous step that you alone are able to bring peace and closure to shattered relationships. Indirect Amends are ways to repair damage that cannot be physically undone.
- To help you understand what most people mean when they say living amends, we’ve put together a few examples.
- My Mom, on the other hand, loves to complain about Ricky’s behavior.
- This becomes an important step on the path to becoming the person you aspire to be.
Step 9 – The 9th Step Promises and Making Amends
Living Amends is committed to helping people in the Central Texas area stay sober for extended periods of time. However, we do not pay for anyone’s entire stay in their sober living community because we also recognize each person’s need to have stakes in the process. We seek true partnerships to allow you to become fully self-supporting. For many, it’s tempting to make amends as soon as possible to “get it out of the way,” but it’s advisable that you take your time to prepare yourself first.
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The key is that we keep the focus on ourselves and our “side of the street,” so to speak. Restoration means bringing something back to its former state, usually things that have been damaged. This can mean restoring our reputations, and even restoring trust in a relationship. Indirect Amends – finding ways to repair damage that cannot be reversed or undone by doing things like volunteering and helping others.
- Emotionally charged situations arise when addressing past mistakes, and being sober equips individuals with better coping mechanisms to navigate these feelings.
- They are being fulfilled among us sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
- In those cases, we can make amends in a broader sense by taking actions like donating money, volunteering our time or providing care.
- We may be in recovery, but our family members may not be able to trust that it’s permanent or sincere.
- Step 9 also allows one to practice the processes of self-reflection, accountability and making amends, all key components the next step, Step 10.
- From the steps leading up to nine, recovering alcoholics begin to develop tools to handle stressful situations without liquor and believe in a Higher Power greater than themselves.
- When someone harms others, they often lose a relationship with that person or at least that person’s trust.
- It is important to note that just because you have made amends does not mean that your relationships will be completely healed or return back to normal.
If you’re in doubt about a specific name on the list, tell your sponsor the whole story. This way, they can help you decide if direct contact is a good idea. After completing step eight, you’ll amphetamine addiction treatment have to categorize the names based on the sort of amends you can (or can’t) make. It won’t be easy, and you’ll likely feel waves of regret washing over you. This can be a sign that you’re working on your sense of morality. Approaching step nine can spread anxiety and fear in the hearts of many of those going through the AA program.
This feeling can be especially strong what is a living amends with spouses, children, and other family members. Many addicts think they don’t deserve to have loved ones in their life at all after everything they’ve put them through. Once you have completed step 9, it’s time to move on to step 10. Step 10 in AA asks you to take a personal inventory of how far you’ve come. It also asks you to reflect on where you are in the present and your day-to-day life. Once you’ve apologized and acknowledged your wrongdoing, listen to the person and validate their feelings.
National Prevention Week: Raising Awareness About Substance Use and Mental Health
In the throes of our addiction, we may have committed a litany of moral https://bazaarkw.jasaz.com/2025/01/15/risk-and-protective-factors-of-drug-abuse-among-2/ and ethically indefensible actions. We have stolen, cheated, lied, betrayed, assaulted, or abused others. By the time we reach this step, we should be able to identify, recognize, and take responsibility for these actions. If you have taken these steps in recovery, please leave a comment!
