Steps 7-9
Steps 7-9
Here are steps 7-9:
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
The infamous 7-9 steps! Well these are the steps you hear on television and comedy shows all the time referencing the importance of taking care of your business. In fact there was a sitcom several years ago based around these steps where he made a list of all the people he ever wronged in his life and the entire show was based with him going around and trying to make amends. Obviously, it did not go well many times and he was perplexed as to why he couldn’t work things out and make things right.
Well getting back to the REAL world these steps work very closely with the previous steps. Looking at our demons we begin to realize how much damage we created not only to ourselves but those around us. So once we get through taking a moral inventory of ourselves and determining what we have been truly hiding from ourselves the next natural step would be to start cleaning up the wreckage so to speak. As indicated in the previous discussion it is imperative to remember if it would be more detrimental than beneficial to contact the person you are trying to make amends to then you will need to determine alternative measures. Be prepared to discuss this with your sponsor or your therapist!! If you are not sure always bounce these ideas with your sponsor or therapist don’t just go jumping straight into the lion’s den!! You may end up getting yourself into a whole lot of mess without even realizing it until it is way too late.
Another word of caution these steps although very cleansing in nature for you may not be for the receiver on the other side. So when doing these always take accountability for your actions as well. Take the time to clean up your side of the street and look at who are you really doing this for. Are you just trying to clear your conscience and feel better without taking the time in determining once again how this will impact others? If after you make the determination that it would adversely affect others then once again find alternatives to take care of your step work. You don’t want to repeat history now do you?
