Step 4 of the 12-step recovery program instructs us to make “a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” To be honest, that step scared me a little bit. It forced me to think about who I was, the choices I had made, and the role other influences had played in my life. When I … Continued
Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, and sometimes it doesn’t happen according to our schedule. For me, Step 4, making a “searching and fearless moral inventory” of myself, was the hardest. I’ve essentially struggled with addiction since I was prescribed opioids as a child. I was only seven at the time, and suffering from debilitating, chronic pain. … Continued
By Mark H., Renascent Alumni Step 2 proved more challenging for me than Step 1. Despite acknowledging my struggle with alcohol since 18, surrendering to a power greater than myself felt elusive. Sixteen years of fluctuating commitment to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) failed to bridge the gap. I was a 90-day wonder too many times to … Continued
There’s an expression that the first step is often the hardest. In my recovery, that’s certainly been the case. Of the 12 Steps, the first – admitting I am powerless over alcohol – is one I take every day. Through treatment, I’ve come to realize that the truth is, I’m an alcoholic. I can’t drink. If I … Continued
Step 12: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” While each and every Step is equally important, Step 12 means a lot to me. It gives me the purpose. It allows me to become … Continued
By Jack, Renascent Alumni Step 10; “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.” In my experience, Step 10 is what keeps me honest, it is what keeps me humble. By working this step, I am able to recognize when my actions counteract the principle based life I am trying … Continued
