When in doubt, write the name down—you can always sort it out with your sponsor during the review process. She took me outside as she thought I wanted to complain about something. She Sobriety said ’So you are the kind of people that steal from me…’ I realized I was going to have to spend some time with her. She was a good person because she said, ‘I am not going to tell my employees, because I don’t want them to think badly of you’.

Director of Corporate Compliance

But the 8th Step isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about doing your best with what you know right now. It’s not always easy to determine where harm was done, especially in situations where the damage wasn’t obvious or intentional. This clarity allows you to create an amends list that is thorough but not overburdened with unnecessary guilt.

• By adopting these step promises, your path will be one of profound change.
• Adhering to the 9th Step Promises leads to a dissipation of feelings of uselessness and self-pity.
• Make sure that you are comfortable with your progress during recovery and that both you and the other person are ready to engage in the process.
• Even if you know nothing about substance abuse or the pursuit of sobriety, you’re very likely aware of AA and its prolific dozen rules.
• Moreover, the 12 steps help to rebuild relationships with loved ones and develop a support network for the future.

Psychosis from Drug Use: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

• The key to making amends with our children, no matter their age, is consistency in our words and actions.
• This is a lifetime process, no matter how long it takes getting through your list is paramount.
• Many people in recovery want a relationship with God or want to learn more about Him.
• The process of making direct or other forms of amends is an ongoing path towards self-improvement which necessitates both diligence and a dedicated pursuit of personal growth.

Your words should be specific and spoken with intention not remorseful mumbling. It’s common to feel an urge to over-apologize or assume responsibility for things that weren’t truly your fault. However, the 8th Step is not about taking on unnecessary guilt or trying to make amends where no harm was done. Apologizing for imagined or minor offenses can make amends feel insincere and may create unnecessary confusion. Try with a 25 minute timer set on your phone and without thinking about it, just start writing down every name that comes to mind that you believe you may have caused harm to. When the timer goes off, get up and away from the work completely, go make a call, get a drink of water and go for a walk, something that gets you away for at least minutes.

What is the 8th Step in AA and Other 12-Step Programs?

• You will lessen the impact of your amends if you water it down with excuses and external blame.
• As lockdowns prohibited in-person meetings, the online realm would emerge to become our lifeline and keep us connected.
• With the realization of how deeply we have hurt others through our addiction, we understand that amends must be made.
• To remedy this situation, the program in the Big Book suggests taking action and more action.

We offer a strong aftercare program that includes a 12-step program in Washington. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, get in touch with us today and start your journey of recovery. Recovering from alcohol and substance https://ecosoberhouse.com/ abuse is not always linear. This list becomes a key to your future free from the weight of past wrongs, living in a new happiness and new freedom you haven’t yet experienced in life. Enjoy this process, no matter how difficult it may seem, because your life is getting ready to change.

Explore Twelve Step Treatment Centers

Opening up about one’s own personal journey can not only catalyze self-healing, but also fortify others, living amends definition forging a robust network of support crucial to the healing process. Such sharing of experiences has the potential to greatly motivate and uplift individuals who are traversing comparable challenges. To fully realize the benefits of the 9th Step Promises, dedication, modesty, and readiness to atone for previous misdeeds. This process is not only self-beneficial, but also aids in mending others around us.

On A Mission To End Addiction!

These categories determine the way the person approaches the process of making amends. The first category should include all of the people to whom the person can make full amends as soon as he or she is sober. The second category should include those people to whom the person will make partial amends, because full restitution would cause more harm than good.