Continued to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
All of the twelve steps are very important but this is (another) one that I have found to be a massive influence on how I live my life and how I feel about myself on a daily basis. It is now a real part of me and, given that I have already said that. Especially in my case. My defects of character could not be instantly removed but more I became aware of them and have to work on them. It is this step that helps me to deal with any fall out when I do not nip my defects in the bud and they surface.
Daily Basis
To start with remembering to do it on a daily basis takes an effort. But not as much effort as it used to be remembering where you had parked your car. I don’t know if you can relate to that but many of us drinkers have a story to tell about losing our car at least on a temporary basis. A friend of mine. Now in recovery. Used to spend a chunk of time regularly on a Sunday looking for his car somewhere in his local town. He now does this with his (still drinking) brothers. I have a better story than that. I went out with my dog one morning and noticed my car had gone from outside my house.
My first thought was to try and remember where I had left it. Once I was sure I had brought it home with me I realised it had been stolen (a brand new Golf GTI which was stripped and dumped in a canal 10 miles away). Before I leave the car stories. I have heard of someone else (now recovering) who used to some how get their car home every night but frequently had no recollection of doing so. They used to check it each morning for dents and feel relieved when they found none. It is scary how many alcoholics drink and drive.
Routine – Step 10
It is important to get into a routine with step 10 as it is all too easy by this stage in our recovery to think we are recovered and we have got sobriety. Complacency is our greatest enemy. Complacency will lead us back to our old ways and feelings – and possibly back to a drink to fix ourselves. Or complacency will lead us to pick up that first drink without thinking. That is when the damage is done as sure as eggs are eggs, one drink will lead to another – and another.
In step 10, we are continuing to watch for our character defects such as dishonesty, resentment and fear. The more we practice step 10, monitoring our character defects, the more we learn about ourselves. We learn not to harbour resentments because if we do we give up our new found freedom.
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol and drug rehab clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions. It follows the Twelve Step Programme of recovery.
Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.
