For example, if you once stole from a coworker, you could apologize and offer repayment. This step seeks inner peace and rebirth through the act of making things right, but only when it won’t harm others in the process. Addiction takes over your life, stealing both your joy and your time, and making it impossible for you to give back to others and live a generous life. Instead, as you pursue a life in recovery, focus on being generous with your time and giving back to others. In this way, you can take the focus off of yourself and choose to live a life of greater meaning.
Aligning words with actions
Identifying individuals harmed by past actions requires deep self-reflection. This process nurtures empathy, facilitating better communication when intending to make amends. Great care should be taken, as reactions from those approached can vary greatly—some may be receptive, while others may not wish to engage. The different types of amends are direct, indirect, and living.
How Practicing Mindfulness Reduces the Risk of Substance Use
We do not drug addiction receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. Avoid initiating a conversation if the other person is distracted or upset by something unrelated. If possible, schedule a time to speak with them in advance to prepare for the conversation. Get confidential assistance & support for yourself or your loved one through Recreate Behavioral Health Network. As time passes, more of your mistakes might be revealed, and you’ll realize you still have messes to clean up.
Who are the best Cricket tipsters at CBTF?
- That’s when the recovering alcoholic reaches out to people they’ve hurt before getting sober in an attempt to make things right.
- If the person you’ve just made amends with does not accept them, don’t let that take away from the purpose.
- Some people may not be willing to forgive or rebuild relationships, and individuals in recovery must be prepared for this possibility.
- It’s a courageous and transformative step that can lead to healing, personal growth, and stronger, more authentic relationships.
We’re taking accountability for our actions during active addiction, and we’re marking for ourselves a new chapter where those behaviors are no longer acceptable. We’re telling the world, “Addiction made me behave a certain way. I don’t like it, and it doesn’t reflect the person I want to be in recovery.” In recovery, we can make an indirect amend with a person we harmed in the past, who since passed away, by volunteering time to a cause living amends they truly cared about in their life. Sometimes, you may not have the opportunity to make direct amends to the person you harmed. Perhaps the person is no longer living, or you no longer have contact with them and reestablishing contact would cause more harm. And in some cases, you may not be able to make direct amends at all.
Step Nine: Making Amends in Recovery
This strategy encourages individuals to describe the situation, express their feelings about it, and ask what is needed. Preemptive stress management through visualization helps enhance composure, while role-playing conversations can also aid in reducing fear and building confidence. When making amends, it’s paramount to avoid any language that shifts blame to the other person. The focus should be solely on your own actions and their consequences.
