Morning Don! short version again for me.(yeah right Mike) Making amends to myself comes from my first belief that God has forgiven me,I accept and admit what I have done in the past,know that I am forgiven and focus any amends I make on the others rather than me, kind of goes along <FOR ME< my ideas of forgiving oneself. If I believe the God of my understanding has forgiven me But I say I just can't forgive my self,I am placing my own judgement above God's merciful provision for me,I cannot place my own evaluation over God's.So each day before rising,I ask God to forgive me for my transgressions(daily)help me to be able to forgive others(im the grudge to the grave type of dude,so got to work hard here) and I make amends for the things I have done,accepting them,knowing I am forgiven(my stuff) and even though our literature tells us"it relieves our guilt and others anger to make amends, I try and keep it on the point of God has taken my part( I surrendered any guilt) and truly hope others will reap the benefits(lot of times doesnt happen.)but remaining in a spiritual realm of believing I have done all I could for others and myself with my Higher Power as the guide frees me up.I dont forget what I did and Im sure others dont either,but I accept,and move forward working to ever remain closer to God's grace.. My stuff......peace my brother...(another short version!!!)
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
Thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not! And during my addict addiction did most of 'em and Guilt reigned supreme.
My name is Mike, I'm a Recoverying Addict and recoverying (insert religion of your youth here).
My understanding of God, my Higher Power, I needed a whole new concept from the vengeful dogmatic god of my youth. As I came to believe in a Loving God, a God who loved me for who I am and forgives me my transgressions in equal measure of my footwork to strive to live a better life, inner peace and acceptance of self slowly became a reality. I no longer had to be perfect, only strive for daily progress.
I no longer had to be perfect. That was a biggy on the road to finding serenity. Accepting that internally was a milestone in self acceptance for me. Accepting myself with my shortcoming and strengths. Once this became a reality of my inner Being forgiveness of self naturally followed. It didn't come over night. The past is done and gone and no longer has to be a whipping post, yet can be valuable in learning how we want to live. Today is all we have and how we choose to live and act today is what counts.
I can't tell someone How. The Steps really are the answer. Just fake it 'til you make it. Feelings will follow actions. We seek progress not perfection, one day at a time.
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
I have a decent measure of peace about the ammends i needed to make to others.
But I have harmed myself too. How does one go about making ammends to themselves?
Come to think of it the answer to your question is simple. You ARE making ammends to yourself, because YOU are active in your Recovery. What greater amends to self for us addicts could there be than living a life based on the spirtiual principles of Narcotics Anonymous!
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Work the Steps or Die MF. (My Friend :) Clean One Day At a Time by The Grace of God through The Power of NA
Someone told me once that "lost dreams awaken" after going through the 12 steps. I think it's a continual thing, personally... the amends part. I like the "thou shalt not" thing. I think we told ourselves for so long that we couldn't do this or that because of whatever limitations (usually fear or thinking we weren't good enough)... but now I know it's total BS and that I can do anything I put my mind to... I just have to try.
The amends we make to ourselves is a process of gaining back our "true" (hehehe) potential, which is ultimately... our higher power's will for us. :)
I have a decent measure of peace about the ammends i needed to make to others.
But I have harmed myself too. How does one go about making ammends to themselves?
Sometimes all we can do is the best we can today, can't change the past, cant be in the future day dreaming LOL so live for today 100% thats better then we used to do so we're doing ourselves and others a service, i'd call that amends..
Self-amends are difficult. I still have trouble forgiving myself for the harms I have done to myself. I make amends to myself by treating myself better. That means taking care of my physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and trying to be the best person I can be.
Good Morning my brother - I am currently working another set of steps.. and on Step 8 - what i have found is that I am my living amends..how I treat myself..how I take care of myself. thru the words I speak to me - how am I living - am I doing the same stuff I did a year ago..if so I get to pray for willingness..I believe that even if I am doing good things outwardly - how am I really living inwardly. See I get to speak TRUTHS into me today..I get to do something different with me today..I wrote a letter to all of me..Acknowledging how I have hurt me..I went to my lil gurl and acknoweldged my adult and acknowledged and then truly look into me and said what will I do different..also ask for forgiveness..and I shared that letter with my sponsor..to write it was powerful..but to here me give back to me..acknowledging to another was pretty powerful. hope that helps
Thanks everyone, Yes! writing a letter to myself. My sponsor mentioned that to me some time ago but i forgot. Thanks for the reminder Teri. So glad your back posting!!!!!!!!!!
