Each type serves a unique purpose in recovery and offers various methods for addressing past wrongs and demonstrating commitment to change. Amends in the context of Alcoholics Anonymous are actions that demonstrate a new life in recovery. They go beyond mere apologies by requiring members working steps eight and nine to take concrete steps to repair the mistakes and damages caused during their addiction. Unlike mere apologies, which are just words, amends involve actions that align with one’s intentions and personal values, illustrating a commitment to change and personal growth. Before completing step nine, the recovering alcoholic needs to be ready to deliver their message with the best intentions, not motivated by false expectations.

What’s the Difference Between Making Amends and an Apology?

Continued AA attendance benefits many people and helps them stay sober lifelong. Step 3 in the Twelve Steps of AA builds upon the previous step and asks you to turn over your life to a higher power. The idea is to have faith in something outside yourself and believe that it can guide you to recovery. This step is designed to help https://ecosoberhouse.com/ you let go of control and surrender to a higher power. It helps you understand that you can’t do it all on your own when you’re in recovery from alcoholism or drug addiction. Step 1 in the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is designed to help you overcome denial.

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It took four years for these three founding groups of Alcoholics Anonymous to help the first living amends definition 100 people get sober. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1935, by two alcoholics – Bill W, a stockbroker from New York, and Bob S, a surgeon from Akron. They met through the Oxford Group, a non-alcoholic fellowship that promoted spiritual living. Even if you think you’ve hidden your addiction well, there will inevitably be ways that it has impacted your relationships.

What are the 9th Step Promises?

This practice also strengthens your connection to your God, reinforcing that you are not alone in this process. The 8th Step isn’t just about identifying harm; it’s a deeply spiritual process that fosters humility, grace, and willingness. The process is ongoing—don’t expect to get everything down perfectly on the first try. Trust that God will reveal more as you continue your recovery journey, even placing people in your path when you least expect it. This openness to divine guidance helps ensure your list is complete, and your willingness to make amends grows naturally over time. As more time passed, my online AA persona became increasingly superficial.

Final Thoughts About Step 8 Amends List from Recovered On Purpose

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. In many 12-step recovery programs, making amends is an important part of the process.

Step 10: Continued Inventory

Our team of experienced and compassionate therapists and counselors guides clients through every step of the recovery process. With their extensive knowledge and empathetic approach, clients receive the support and expertise needed to navigate the challenges of addiction. What’s more, many recovering addicts receive other treatments in addition to the 12-Step philosophy. This makes it impossible to say what part of the rehab was responsible for a person’s success in staying sober. That’s why it can be hard to say just how well a 12-step program works.

• The target audience for “We Agnostics” is relatively easy to define.
• Step 8 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous focuses on making amends with the people you hurt through your alcohol abuse.
• If you are working an Alcoholics Anonymous program, following AA’s Big Book, then first let’s say congratulations!
• If you’re actively using drugs or alcohol, making amends can seem like an empty gesture to the other person.
• For example, if you are estranged from a loved one and they will not see you, your indirect amends may involve reflecting on and modifying the behaviors that led to the estrangement.

I remember when I was going through my ninth step amends and drug addiction began feeling the promises in my life almost immediately after beginning. There were a few I was a bit afraid to make, but after getting some of the easier ones out of the way, I lost the fear of facing people for the things I had done in the past I was unable to change. Embarking on the 9th step heralds a significant transformation in both emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Those dedicated to their recovery process are assured these step 9 promises, which bring about extraordinary freedom and joy while having a real spiritual experience. Making amends is ill-advised if it involves confessing to actions the other party is unaware of, as this can lead to unnecessary pain. Sometimes, symbolic amends are made when direct contact with the person harmed is not feasible or could cause further damage.