Topic for thought

Today we are tackling Step 8, which is all about making a list of all the people we have hurt, either intentionally or unintentionally, and becoming willing to make amends by trying to put right the damage we have caused. !

The Issue

The purpose of Step 8 is to make a list of all those people we have hurt throughout our lives with a view to contacting them, where appropriate, and making amends. The purpose is trying to restore our damaged relationships wherever possible. It doesn’t matter what their response is – my responsibility is to clean up my side of the street.

The Goals

On completion of Step 8 we should be able to...

• Understand that making amends is not about my past, but about my future

• Understand what is required to restore a damaged relationship

• Understand that I can be just as addicted to bitterness, hatred and revenge as I can be to drugs or alcohol

• Understand that in making amends I don’t expect anything back in return

• Understand that making an appropriate amend is all in the timing

• Understand that once I start working this step it is one of the most liberating things I can experience