Quote:
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"We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves." - Basic Text, page 13
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For me, the 8th Step looked easy at first, but it really wasn't. In the previous 7 steps, I got honest about my thoughts, my ideas and why I did the things I did...but this step required me to employ a deeper honesty about my interactions with other people. Truly understanding what harm is and eliminating my justfications and rationalizations took some effort, and because I wasn't confident or sure, I ended up making a list that was ridiculously long. Once I shared my list with my sponsor (and why those people were on it) he suggested that seperate actual harm from imagined harm and to make sure I added myself to the list. Although the 8th Step is a practice of willingness, it also opens the door to forgiveness. By forgiving myself, I began the process of becoming willing to make amends. Another key was for me to do the 8th Step as if there was no 9th Step.