Yet, to be truly successful at forgiving and releasing past wrongs, you need to go directly to the individual you’ve hurt. When you go directly to the person, real spiritual transformation is more likely to occur. The second part of the 12th step is about carrying the message of recovery to other people.

• For many, this is one of the most important components of recovery, because it allows them to work on rebuilding their relationships and letting go of those they cannot repair.
• When you’re humble, you’re cognizant of the fact that you’re not a major part of the bigger picture.
• Other individuals who have completed Step 9, such as your sponsor, may be able to help you choose a meaningful way to make indirect amends.
• For those in recovery programs, practicing Step 12 is simply “how it works,” as the founders of the fellowship discovered for themselves in those early days.
• In Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), making amends is considered a crucial component of long-term recovery.

It’s important to remember that recovery is a lifelong journey and the 12 steps are simply one part of that journey. Step 9 aims to provide you with personal peace of mind, as well as healing in your relationships. The idea of making amends can trigger anxiety and fear of rejection, but you can move through this process at your own pace. Your sponsor can also serve as a source of emotional support during this time.

Unlock your path toward recovery

Ultimately, Wilson broke away from the group to develop an organization specifically formed to contend with alcoholism, a problem rampant during his era and one that continues to plague millions in the U.S. and abroad. What are the 12 Principles of AA and how do they work in recovery? A complete answer to this question begins with a quick history of how https://ecosoberhouse.com/ these principles originated, who developed them, and why. You’ll then get to learn about each principle separately and what it means…. Even so, you will have done all that you can to take responsibility for the past—and there’s a level of peace and freedom in that as well. How the other person chooses to respond to our amends is out of our control.

Step Nine can leave you emotionally exhausted; it’s a difficult step to navigate. But the rewards you’ll reap from living amends can help make the challenges easier and more productive. Plus, you’ll find that as relationships heal and friendships are repaired, you’ll have more support and encouragement from those around you, and nothing is more helpful in recovery than a community of valuable family and friends.

Step 2: Hope

While making amends is apologizing, living amends means living a completely new, sober lifestyle, and being committed to that lifestyle for both yourself and those you’ve harmed in the living amends past. It means that you’re not just using your words to show a change, your actions are proving this change as well. Making amends requires the individual to correct their mistake.

Your AA sponsor, therapist, or another trusted person can help you determine how best to address making amends. At this time, that may include simply having a conversation where you acknowledge any financial burden caused by your actions and the fact that you cannot currently lift that burden even though you wish to do so. Making direct amends means actively confronting your behavior with the person who you harmed. In some cases, simply opening up a conversation with a friend or family member about your history of alcohol use can begin the process of making amends. In simplest terms are a solution to the disease of alcoholism. They are a set of universal guiding principles that merge the traditional boundaries of religion, history, culture and wisdom traditions.