Nor do I play the peacemaker between http://bani-i-sauni.ru/books/item/f00/s00/z0000002/st013.shtml him and our Mother. If he specifically asks for my opinion, which he doesn’t, I will give it. When I first came to recovery, I was certain steps 8 and 9 would be a breeze. After all, I hadn’t hurt anyone (Step 8), so I didn’t need to make any amends (Step 9). In fact, every day I make a living amends to my husband, son, Mom, and brother Ricky. What happens when an attempt to correct your wrongs may cause further harm?
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We talked about the complicated processes of self-forgiveness https://knitgid.ru/sem-travm-docheri-emocionalno-otstranennoi-materi-borba-s-posledstviyami/ and self-compassion. We’ve filled you in on things that can exacerbate guilt, like hindsight bias and survivors’ guilt. We’ve given you journaling exercises around coping with regret. All types of amends are good, but living amends are some of the best kinds you can make! They affirm your decision to make lifelong changes, which has a positive effect on both you and everyone around you. Making living amends can take on many different forms depending on the relationship to those affected by the wrongdoing.
Evidence-Based Addiction Treatments and Step 9 AA
- They don’t always see my hands off approach as sincere kindness, but my motives are pure.
- Sometimes direct amends are not possible, and this is where living amends come into play.
- It took me a while to “get it,” because it’s not a term I use daily unless speaking to my sister Grace.
- Sometimes, it’s necessary to make amends to employers or co-workers.
- If you need to pay someone back a thousand dollars (direct amends), make an agreement with them to work to do this.
- The root of many fears and feelings boil down to guilt and shame.
Direct, face-to-face amends are encouraged to facilitate genuine healing. For example, if you once stole from a coworker, you could apologize and offer repayment. This step seeks inner peace and rebirth through the act of making things right, but only when it won’t harm others in the process. We are seeking accountability for our own actions and holding ourselves to the standards of our own values and our 12 Step program. It’s important to note that making amends is for the person we hurt. Yes, we partake in the process to “clean up our side of the street,” but we do not make amends to clear our conscience or undo our feelings of guilt.
Commit to living a sober and honest life
We came from very humble beginnings, https://www.myprice74.ru/info/tv/mtv/?date=2010-06-15 and would love to tell you our story of success and recovery. He’s a teenager, so I try to let him function at that age level. When he runs out of clean clothes, I don’t lecture or offer solutions. I let him decide if he wants to do laundry at midnight or wear dirty clothes. I no longer interrogate him about his day at school, so I can give my wise advice on how to handle difficult peers.
- Making amends in recovery offers a profound opportunity to acknowledge past wrongdoings, take responsibility for one’s actions, rebuild trust, and repair damaged connections.
- The four categories determine the manner in which the recovering alcoholic will express their amends.
- It’s important to respect their boundaries and not force the interaction, as this could potentially cause further harm.
- One can start with those amends that may be easier and work their way up to the more challenging ones.
It takes willingness and courage to reflect on and find a resolution to your mistakes. If the recovering alcoholic is able to do this, then it demonstrates that they are progressing positively and ready for the tenth step. The guilt for your wrongdoings will eventually dissipate and by making an apology and amends, you will be able to let go and live. Addiction is a complex and pervasive disease that extends far beyond the individual struggling with substance abuse. When someone is in the throes of active addiction, their behavior and choices often clash with their true values, causing significant harm to their relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. Making amends in recovery offers a profound opportunity to acknowledge past wrongdoings, take responsibility for one’s actions, rebuild trust, and repair damaged connections.