It is important to note that just because you have made amends does not mean that your relationships will be completely healed or return back to normal. In many 12-step recovery programs, making amends is an important part of the process. For example, Alcoholic Anonymous (AA)’s ninth step involves making amends to the individuals in your life who were affected by your addiction. The goal of the program is to improve yourself https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and make strides to be a better person for yourself and your loved ones alike while also remaining sober.
- Once I was in sober living, I started off with getting a bed, then Whitney gave me a temporary job which turned into me getting a more permanent job.
- I do not expect anything in return and sincerely appreciate you taking the time to (read or listen) to me.
- If they receive that scholarship, they’ll pay 75% of that month’s rent.
- We are seeking accountability for our own actions and holding ourselves to the standards of our own values and our 12 Step program.
Donate to Living Amends Today
Amends are not about getting things off our chest at the expense of others. Rather, they are spiritual exercises in humility whereby we are watchful of our attitudes and actions. Healthy behavior can be our most powerful amends; it is a testament to our recovery. As we embark on this journey to learn how to achieve Celebrate Recovery Step 9, remember to turn to the Lord when you are in doubt about anything.
Sober Halloween Coloring Pages
The process of making amends is not about us fixing everything—that comes in time and from going to meetings, attending to our recovery and cultivating a relationship to a Higher Power. Then we make space for other people to hurt and heal—not just now, but into the foreseeable future. If we are honest and sincere about our amends, then we will not repeat those mistakes, and we will not rush people to forgiveness. We will honor the emotional consequences that stem from our behaviors, and seek to become healthier so as not to repeat them. And when it comes to our family and children, we might be particularly interested in speeding that process along.
What Is Celebrate Recovery, and What Is It Not?
As we living amends go into this step we must remember to stay connected to a higher power and have faith that the previous eight steps have prepared us to work the Ninth Step. According to Alcoholics Anonymous, living amends occur when you decide to “live out” the changes you have agreed to in your recovery journey. These are long-term actions or steps you take to show you are completely committed to recovery.
It requires more than just a simple apology; it involves taking concrete actions to rectify past wrongs and demonstrating a commitment to change. Apologizing to loved ones can be a challenging and emotional process. At Harmony Haus, we offer the guidance and support members need to navigate this stage in their drug addiction recovery. Through our various sober living programs and services, our members gain the tools to reflect on their past and communicate more effectively. However, making an effort to repair relationships will benefit you and your loved ones in the long run.
If you have 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. 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. If someone does not want to hear from us, we respect that and do our best to move forward with our recoveries. Step Nine states that we make amends “except when to do so would injure them or others.” We don’t want our actions to cause further damage, harm or stress.
