Hi-my dictionary sez harm is "injury, damage, hurt, wrong, evil" (to do these is to do harm). When I did my fourth step, I got a pretty good idea of how I had hurt others, and included acts where I couldn't know the actual effect on others, such as various types of theft, wrong sexual behavior, sins of omission, and so forth.
Harm to me is multi-faceted and may include physical, mental/emotional, social, financial, spiritual aspects. So I looked at the various implications of my interactions, and even my thoughts...what was in my heart.
My fifth step provided me with the majority of my "list" for making amends, and the 8th step only needed to be reviewed and completed, adding one person I had not wanted to deal with one until I knew I had to for my own sobriety. That was a situation where the person had done devestating harm to myself and my child...it was hard to separate that out from anything I did to wrong him, which was miniscule in comparison, and I considered deserved and justified. Had to work that one out in therapy before I could make "spiritual" amends (not safe to make contact).
In some cases, I really wasn't sure if I had harmed someone, so I simply asked them, letting them know why I was asking and that I hoped they could be honest with me. In doing that, there was only one surprise, where I had been clueless. Learning that the person felt wronged by me, and then making the amends, helped our friendship become stronger.
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From dying and surviving to living and thriving. LeeU
My list is full of people that I have harmed. I'm trying to remember how I did them wrong so when I get a chance to meet them, I'll be able to describe specific things that NOW appear so wrong....
Hi Dave, I remember having a tough time accepting the baxic text definithion of 'harm' as literal. The best I can recall it says something like "Harm can be physical, mental, or emotional. It can be caused by anything I have said, done, left unsaid or undone." I felt that the definition was so broad that it literally could include every person I ever came into contact with. When it came time to make the list, I just tstarted writing and found that my HP provided the guidance I needed. I kept the list to a manageable length and know that as I continue this journey my HP will reveal new names that need to be added as I go on.
One of the greatest gifts of recovery for an addict with control issues like me is to find that I can finally relax and take my hands off the wheel. Quite suprisingly, the universe continues to unfold exactly as it should without my help. Imagine that!
Thanks for the post Dave, good luck as you journey continues.... Big NA Hugs, Dan
-- Edited by dan h on Wednesday 24th of June 2009 05:03:02 AM
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"With a sweet tongue of kindness, you can drag an elephant by a hair." ~Persian Proverb