This can lead to a breakdown in communication, increased conflict, financial strain, and a profound loss of trust within the family unit. There are a lot of fearful feelings before, during and after making amends in the ninth step. While working step nine it’s really important to understand that the way things feel is not necessarily the way things are. Because we are feeling afraid we assume that this means we truly have something to fear.
What Are Living Amends? And How Do You Make Them? Cake Blog Cake: Create a Free End of Life Plan
Whether accepted or not, sincere amends reflect courage, clarity, and character. The people you hurt may not forgive—and that’s okay—but you’ll gain peace, grow stronger, and honor your path in recovery. Step 8 is a challenging list to write because this process requires you to hold yourself accountable for your mistakes. You can’t blame your addiction-related behaviors on stress, a quick temper, or mere impulsiveness. You must acknowledge that you chose to act in a way that caused harm to others.
Take the Next Steps
Making amends is not only https://lokal77.co/how-to-get-someone-into-rehab-who-doesnt-want-to/ a pathway to healing damaged relationships but also a vital part of personal growth and sustained sobriety. Living Amends’s impact can be seen in the lives of individuals recovering from addiction in Texas. By providing scholarships to vetted sober living facilities, they are helping individuals transition from treatment programs to long-term recovery. This support not only offers financial assistance but also promotes a structured environment that fosters continued sobriety.
How to Achieve Celebrate Recovery Step 9
To be eligible, individuals must have completed an in-person residential treatment program and pledge to maintain their recovery in a sober living environment. Upon receiving a scholarship, recipients are asked to repay 25% of the awarded amount within a year. The mission of Living Amends is to support the recovery journey of individuals by providing financial assistance for sober living accommodations.
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. Over the years, in small bits and pieces, I have been living amends able to share small pearls of my Al-anon wisdom. However, there are situations where it might not be appropriate. If approaching the other person opens up old wounds or re-traumatizes them, making amends isn’t advisable.
You aren’t making marijuana addiction amends to get a specific reaction from someone. This shows you understand what you did that hurt the other person. It shows that you are taking responsibility for your behavior.
- These changes in behavior help toward the goal of reestablishing living amends relationships or making them stronger.
- Approaching individuals when they are open to dialogue increases the likelihood of a positive interaction.
- Honesty is key in determining impactful living amends, which require ongoing effort and dedication to show real transformation.
- Some people will be easier to approach than others due to the relationship you have with them, how close you live to them, or other factors.
Some people in your life may not be receptive on your timeline. Communicating about the way you harmed others can evoke strong emotions. If you’ve devoted the necessary time and energy to the first 8 steps, you should have a solid foundation from which to approach making amends in Step 9. Your relationship with a higher power—no matter how you define it—can help you to remain open and willing, even as you acknowledge hard truths about pain you have caused to others.
The purpose of Step Nine is to acknowledge the harm caused during active addiction and to make it right with the people involved, as much as possible. Instead, you may need to engage in a dialogue with them over time. This may involve attending family therapy or individual therapy. You will need to demonstrate that you are committed to rebuilding trust and repairing your relationship with them. Step 9 centers on forgiveness and restoration, confronting past actions directly rather than avoiding them. This step emphasizes making direct amends wherever possible, acknowledging harm caused and taking actions to rectify mistakes.
The Application Process
Indirect amends are necessary when contacting the person you wronged is impossible or would cause harm. In some cases, writing a letter or sending an email is appropriate. They require you to take personal responsibility for your actions and reconcile with the person you’ve wronged.
