| Step 9
of Narcotics Anonymous
By Terry
After acquiring willingness
to make the necessary amends from our list in Step 8 of NA, we are now
prepared for the action Step. In Step 9 of NA, we make amends to all
persons we had harmed, with the exception of injuring others or
ourselves. The objective of this Step is to repair the damages of our
past wrongs. It should be our intention to resolve the disturbances that
we encounter. This act of restoration will eliminate our regretful
feelings. The faults of our past are now brought to light for the healing
process to take place. No longer does shame and dishonor have to inhibit
our forward growth.
We should
approach our amends with a confident and assured attitude because we
deserve the many rewards to come. We ought to take our time while making
our amends. We are on our way to a sense of “normality.” We become
excited with our progress, and our conscience becomes cleansed of remorse
and guilt.
We will
experience various feelings as we start making amends. We may feel
comfortable with some amends, and fearful of others. If we face our
amends anticipating refusal or reprisal, then this experience won’t be of
benefit to us. We may be fearful, but it should always be our intention
to be prepared for whatever outcome may result – fearlessly. A lot of our
amends may never be totally completed; however, we should strive with an
attempt at complete restoration. With our relationships, we must exert
vigor on a continual basis to better improve them; only then will many of
our amends really have affect.
Many members in
the Fellowship are not able to repair each and every one or our wrongs.
We do have added support from our Sponsors, from supporters of our
recovery, and from the love of our Higher Power to safeguard us from
potential ruinous fallouts. In actuality, we still grow through the
course of action, and in the end, we become grateful that we made the
amends. We always wear the shield that our Higher Power equips us with,
in which we can make use of at any point in time during our amends
process.
This act of
making amends is one of humility, and it’s rewarding for many reasons. We
learn to act with love and respect in our relationships, and in dealings
with other people. We become much less self-seeking in nature, and start
to become attentive and care about other people’s feelings. Our behavior
is uncovering itself, giving us an added occasion to further reinforce our
values and personality. We get to start working on our behaviors with
other people, which give us an opportune time to reinforce our newfound
sincerity, trustworthiness, and reliability. Good times begin to
overshadow the downbeat occurrences of our past. Now we get the
opportunity to work on ourselves, and also with family and friends, the
Fellowship, and society as a whole. Stability is therefore established in
our lives. We are now obtaining the moral framework vital for a life of
achievement and fulfillment.
Through making
our amends, a great amount of spiritual growth shines forth. We start to
view our circumstances and lives differently, while becoming aware of our
wrongdoings. We admit our faults that bring us a lasting harmony. We
become less self-absorbed. This Step has tremendous impact on our
spiritual quest. We learn humbleness, and to be openly straightforward.
We become released from the chains that confined us to our wrongs.
Freedom results, and we have at last concluded another crucial aspect in
our recovery.
The tools that
we’ve gained while working the Steps have given us hope, strength, and the
knowledge necessary to live a blissful, thriving existence. Our entire
moral filament has intensified into one of integrity and virtuous values.
We can now live uninhibited by the failures and impurities of our past. A
whole alteration of disposition has occurred. We’ve learned the key
principles necessary to stay on the right track leading to personal
advancement, positive change, enhanced alertness, and spiritual
illumination.
I’ve personally
learned through this Step working experience that once my mind becomes
clarified, inspired, and optimistically ambitious, then I can bravely
initiate the process of indisputable personal victory. By surrendering my
will to the Divine Essence, I acquire might and courage – the vital
ingredients to reclaim self-confidence, sense of worth, and the motivating
force needed to escalate beyond restricting horizons. I can now
distinguish my true, unconstrained essence within; and by following my new
inner voice, while seeking the strength of my Higher Power, I can lock
onto true understanding, thereby becoming able to achieve success.
Through the
process of Step 9, we release the binding agents that hinder true personal
growth. We purge ourselves of further harmful elements that could
restrict our advancement. We are on our way to a life bursting of endless
opportunities, and we’ve acquired the fundamental skills needed to achieve
victory in all aspects of our lives. We now utilize the Spiritual
Principles that we’ve learned, while remaining confident in their ability
to assist us in our daily affairs. We become appreciative of all the
awareness, strength, and knowledge that we’ve thus far attained while
working the 12 Steps. Thank you, my name is Terry, and I am an addict.
If you
have any questions on recovery, or the N.A. program, then you can contact
me by
Clicking Here. Thank
you for allowing me to be of service. My name is Terry, and I am an
addict.
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