Finished the steps
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
Finished the steps
Just wanted to let you all know, after almost 11 months, and a few wobbly moments of nearly letting go of my faith, I finally completed all the steps with my sponsor last night.
I'm ready to put all this into action and live my life according to the programme now.
Big hugs of gratitude being sent your way from me this morning from a grey and cloudy England.
In some ways, this feels like it's the beginning of a new phase...letting go of my sponsors hand just a little...
Thankyou all
Jen
Xxx
I'm ready to put all this into action and live my life according to the programme now.
Big hugs of gratitude being sent your way from me this morning from a grey and cloudy England.
In some ways, this feels like it's the beginning of a new phase...letting go of my sponsors hand just a little...
Thankyou all
Jen
Xxx
Fellow Traveler and Seeker
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 2,408
We live the steps, never finish...
Congrats in the hard work you have done...what an uplifting feeling it is to get to a point where you can look back and see where you have come from and where you're at now.
Awesome, Jeni - time to pass it on
Congrats in the hard work you have done...what an uplifting feeling it is to get to a point where you can look back and see where you have come from and where you're at now.
Awesome, Jeni - time to pass it on
Belgian Sheepdog Adictee
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: In Today
Posts: 6,101
Congrats!!!!!!
Now you get to LIVE the steps on a daily basis.
There are several diffrent versions of the prinicpals of the steps. Here are the two that I live by:
1st VERSION:
12 Step Principles
1. Surrender. (Capitulation to hopelessness.)
2. Hope. (Step 2 is the mirror image or opposite of step 1. In step 1 we admit that alcohol is our higher power, and that our lives are unmanageable. In step 2, we find a different Higher Power who we hope will bring about a return to sanity in management of our lives.)
3. Commitment. (The key word in step 3 is decision.)
4. Honesty. (An inventory of self.)
5. Truth. (Candid confession to God and another human being.)
6. Willingness. (Choosing to abandon defects of character.)
7. Humility. (Standing naked before God, with nothing to hide, and asking that our flaws in His eyes be removed.)
8. Reflection. (Who have we harmed? Are we ready to amend?)
9. Amendment. (Making direct amends/restitution/correction, etc..)
10. Vigilance. (Exercising self-discovery, honesty, abandonment, humility, reflection and amendment on a momentary, daily, and periodic basis.)
11. Attunement. (Becoming as one with our Father.)
12. Service. (Awakening into sober usefulness.)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2nd VERSION:
Step 1: Honesty
After many years of denial, recovery can begin when with one simple admission of
being powerless over alcohol -- for alcoholics and their friends and family.
Step 2: Faith
It seems to be a spiritual truth, that before a higher power can begin to operate, you
must first believe that it can.
Step 3: Surrender
A lifetime of self-will run riot can come to a screeching halt, and change forever, by
making a simple decision to turn it all over to a higher power.
Step 4: Soul Searching
There is a saying in the 12-step programs that recovery is a process, not an event.
The same can be said for this step -- more will surely be revealed.
Step 5: Integrity
Probably the most difficult of all the steps to face, Step 5 is also the one that provides
the greatest opportunity for growth.
Step 6: Acceptance
The key to Step 6 is acceptance -- accepting character defects exactly as they are
and becoming entirely willing to let them go.
Step 7: Humility
The spiritual focus of Step 7 is humility, asking a higher power to do something that
cannot be done by self-will or mere determination.
Step 8: Willingness
Making a list of those harmed before coming into recovery may sound simple. Becoming
willing to actually make those amends is the difficult part.
Step 9: Forgiveness
Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about
recovery it can be great medicine for the spirit and soul.
Step 10: Maintenance
Nobody likes to admit to being wrong. But it is absolutely necessary to maintain
spiritual progress in recovery.
Step 11: Making Contact
The purpose of Step 11 is to discover the plan God as you understand Him has for your
life.
Step 12: Service
For those in recovery programs, practicing Step 12 is simply "how it works."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
These two 'versions' of the 'principles' of the 12 steps have helped me tremendously over these many years to LIVE the 12 steps in my life on a daily basis.
Hope they can help you also as you travel the onderful road of sobriety!
Love and hugs,
Now you get to LIVE the steps on a daily basis.
There are several diffrent versions of the prinicpals of the steps. Here are the two that I live by:
1st VERSION:
12 Step Principles
1. Surrender. (Capitulation to hopelessness.)
2. Hope. (Step 2 is the mirror image or opposite of step 1. In step 1 we admit that alcohol is our higher power, and that our lives are unmanageable. In step 2, we find a different Higher Power who we hope will bring about a return to sanity in management of our lives.)
3. Commitment. (The key word in step 3 is decision.)
4. Honesty. (An inventory of self.)
5. Truth. (Candid confession to God and another human being.)
6. Willingness. (Choosing to abandon defects of character.)
7. Humility. (Standing naked before God, with nothing to hide, and asking that our flaws in His eyes be removed.)
8. Reflection. (Who have we harmed? Are we ready to amend?)
9. Amendment. (Making direct amends/restitution/correction, etc..)
10. Vigilance. (Exercising self-discovery, honesty, abandonment, humility, reflection and amendment on a momentary, daily, and periodic basis.)
11. Attunement. (Becoming as one with our Father.)
12. Service. (Awakening into sober usefulness.)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2nd VERSION:
Step 1: Honesty
After many years of denial, recovery can begin when with one simple admission of
being powerless over alcohol -- for alcoholics and their friends and family.
Step 2: Faith
It seems to be a spiritual truth, that before a higher power can begin to operate, you
must first believe that it can.
Step 3: Surrender
A lifetime of self-will run riot can come to a screeching halt, and change forever, by
making a simple decision to turn it all over to a higher power.
Step 4: Soul Searching
There is a saying in the 12-step programs that recovery is a process, not an event.
The same can be said for this step -- more will surely be revealed.
Step 5: Integrity
Probably the most difficult of all the steps to face, Step 5 is also the one that provides
the greatest opportunity for growth.
Step 6: Acceptance
The key to Step 6 is acceptance -- accepting character defects exactly as they are
and becoming entirely willing to let them go.
Step 7: Humility
The spiritual focus of Step 7 is humility, asking a higher power to do something that
cannot be done by self-will or mere determination.
Step 8: Willingness
Making a list of those harmed before coming into recovery may sound simple. Becoming
willing to actually make those amends is the difficult part.
Step 9: Forgiveness
Making amends may seem like a bitter pill to swallow, but for those serious about
recovery it can be great medicine for the spirit and soul.
Step 10: Maintenance
Nobody likes to admit to being wrong. But it is absolutely necessary to maintain
spiritual progress in recovery.
Step 11: Making Contact
The purpose of Step 11 is to discover the plan God as you understand Him has for your
life.
Step 12: Service
For those in recovery programs, practicing Step 12 is simply "how it works."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
These two 'versions' of the 'principles' of the 12 steps have helped me tremendously over these many years to LIVE the 12 steps in my life on a daily basis.
Hope they can help you also as you travel the onderful road of sobriety!
Love and hugs,
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
Oops, yeah sorry guys...didn't mean I was finished WITH the steps, just that I have finished my weekly coaching meetings with my sponsor where she was guiding me through each one. Very patiently I might add, I don't think I've been the easiest sponsee!
Now those sessions have come to an end. I am living the steps each and every day.
Thankyou all x
Now those sessions have come to an end. I am living the steps each and every day.
Thankyou all x
7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
Thankyou everyone, and sorry for the misleading title. I realise I have not finished working the steps. It was badly worded. Indeed I feel like my journey is just beginning.
What I meant to say was that I have finished studying the steps with my sponsor in our weekly f2f meetings. I will continue to study them in my weekly step meetings and will be practicing them on a daily basis.
Thanks for the reminder!
What I meant to say was that I have finished studying the steps with my sponsor in our weekly f2f meetings. I will continue to study them in my weekly step meetings and will be practicing them on a daily basis.
Thanks for the reminder!
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: scotland
Posts: 1,493
WOOP WOOP WOOP )) now you get to give it away Jeni...and you will get the biggest kick out of that....i remember when i got my first sponsee, my sponser turned around to me and said "NOW you really start to learn how to live the steps"
PAH!!! i really had my nose put out of joint by her saying that...i thought "you cheeky mare! havnt you just witnessed how hard ive worked" lol lol...but you know what..she was absolutely right....
my biggest problem always is selfishness and self-centredness and giving of myself freely has been the highlight of my journey))
i shall be watching this space for you to come and say you have your first sponsee
much love in fellowship jeni.
charmie x
)) now you get to give it away Jeni...and you will get the biggest kick out of that....i remember when i got my first sponsee, my sponser turned around to me and said "NOW you really start to learn how to live the steps"PAH!!! i really had my nose put out of joint by her saying that...i thought "you cheeky mare! havnt you just witnessed how hard ive worked" lol lol...but you know what..she was absolutely right....
my biggest problem always is selfishness and self-centredness and giving of myself freely has been the highlight of my journey
))i shall be watching this space for you to come and say you have your first sponsee
much love in fellowship jeni.
charmie x
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: South East England
Posts: 8,009
Originally Posted by Charmie 
WOOP WOOP WOOP )) now you get to give it away Jeni...and you will get the biggest kick out of that....i remember when i got my first sponsee, my sponser turned around to me and said "NOW you really start to learn how to live the steps"
PAH!!! i really had my nose put out of joint by her saying that...i thought "you cheeky mare! havnt you just witnessed how hard ive worked" lol lol...but you know what..she was absolutely right....
my biggest problem always is selfishness and self-centredness and giving of myself freely has been the highlight of my journey))
i shall be watching this space for you to come and say you have your first sponsee
much love in fellowship jeni.
charmie x
)) now you get to give it away Jeni...and you will get the biggest kick out of that....i remember when i got my first sponsee, my sponser turned around to me and said "NOW you really start to learn how to live the steps"PAH!!! i really had my nose put out of joint by her saying that...i thought "you cheeky mare! havnt you just witnessed how hard ive worked" lol lol...but you know what..she was absolutely right....
my biggest problem always is selfishness and self-centredness and giving of myself freely has been the highlight of my journey
))i shall be watching this space for you to come and say you have your first sponsee
much love in fellowship jeni.
charmie x
I know what you mean about your sponsors comments too..that made me laugh. Mine hasn't suggested me sponsoring another (yet!) but has already put my name down to do the main share on step 1 at a local meeting in a few weeks. She ignored my protestations and said I was ready. I don't feel ready, I'm only just getting my head round being open and honest when I say anything. But, I guess it's time for me to do what is best for others. Time to give when I've taken so much up to this point.
Still scary though!
Xx
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