Step 9 is about meeting with those people to actively redress the wrongs. The 12 steps are beneficial in helping people smoothly transition to each new stage in their recovery. Direct amends are not always possible or practical, but that doesn’t mean the individual is unable to demonstrate changed behavior. Volunteering for a worthwhile cause or supporting a charity can be a valuable way to make amends. A 12-step program is designed to encourage long-term sobriety, by fostering a spirituality for recovery. Each step signifies a new challenge to reflect and/or act in a way that changes old mindsets and behaviors that once fed addiction.

Myth: The AA Promises are religious in nature.

Practicing your sobriety with the principle of love means that you’re not just existing for yourself but in service to the people you care about. You can practice integrity in your recovery by talking through everything that you feel guilty about and your mistakes. With the publication living amends of the organization’s principles and writings, word began to spread about its success. Once AA managed to help 500 people achieve sobriety, it attracted a more national audience. By 1950, the organization could boast of having helped 500,000 people overcome their dependence on alcohol.

Guide to Step 9 and Making Amends

Sometimes it can be hard to know what to say when preparing to make amends. There may be so many times we feel we let someone down that it can be hard to know where to begin. We want to convey our heartfelt remorse but worry that our words will fall short.

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If approaching the other person opens up old wounds or re-traumatizes them, making amends isn’t advisable. If interacting with someone re-traumatizes you, or increases your risk of relapse, you might want to reconsider approaching them. Providing evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions, addiction, trauma/PTSD, and co-occurring disorders on a serene 90-acre property.

It’s the kind of thing that could make you give up hope in people. I’d already told him that if there was anything I could do to make things right, for him to tell me. I learned that once that’s said, a response might not happen instantly. I’ve imagined how I would react if someone made amends to me and asked me what they could do. I don’t think I’d be able to say right on that heartbeat what was really going on for me.

How the AA Promises Work

• In some cases, it may be impossible to make direct amends because you can’t locate someone or they have passed away.
• The eighth step then helps the individual prepare to accomplish step nine.
• Many people find that the support they receive from AA meetings helps them prepare to make amends.

I also made countless promises to her that I did not keep. It ranged from promising to fix something around the house to going to a family gathering. The first step is to know that your questions and feelings are normal.

AA Promises: What They Mean and How They Work

Living amends bridges the gap between living in shame and regret and finding forgiveness. Another important aspect of living by the AA Promises is developing a sense of accountability. This involves acknowledging one’s mistakes and making amends when necessary. By taking ownership of one’s actions, individuals can build trust and respect with others, which can be crucial for maintaining relationships. The 12 step promises can be used as a tool for individuals to track their progress through the different steps of the program.

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