Making your way through the 12-Steps means you have admitted you are powerless. You have developed a relationship with a Higher Power, found your part, and admitted it. Your support system has helped you accept your character defects. With your sponsor’s help, you have made a list of people you have harmed and tried to make amends to them all. What a journey this has been! Even though you are two-thirds done, you still have some work left to complete all twelve steps. While the 12-Steps is a lifetime quest for knowledge about addiction’s incurable condition, you are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with some newfound hope.
Step Ten is all about the perseverance of personal responsibility by using self-discovery to look at what you do every day with how you act and react. “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it,” is Step Ten’s suggestion. By taking daily stock of the people, places, and things that emotionally disturb you, you are better protecting yourself from relapse. With a spot-check inventory throughout the day or a more in-depth inventory at night, you are setting yourself up for success in the present moment and for a more prosperous tomorrow.
The Tenth Step models a list of questions from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 86. “Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could pack into the stream of life?” Using these questions as a standard will give you the ability to straighten out what you may feel uneasy about and move on.
You will Understand to a Greater Degree Who You Are
Taking a daily inventory each day will undoubtedly reveal your strengths and weaknesses in more detail. Staying current with your Tenth Step gives you the ability to learn why certain things bother you and if you are honest, find your part in them.
You will Develop A Code of Tolerance and Love
If you can see what is wrong with you instead of pointing out what is wrong with everyone else, you will know that you are not perfect. Take driving, for instance. Rather than criticizing another driver for not turning on their blinker when they turn, remember when you made that mistake yourself. Think back to what was going on with you during that time. Practicing tolerance and love for others will carry over to yourself. You can stop being so hard on your past mistakes. Letting everyone be human, including yourself, will lower expectations and lessen peer pressure.
You will Clean Up Your Side of the Street
Looking at what you have done and considering whether you owe an apology is a vital part of this step. To gain closure, you must genuinely and promptly admit when you are wrong. Overlooking what you did without seeing the harm will only add deprecation when you need encouragement. You are going to make mistakes for the rest of your life. Step Ten will help you to identify them and decide if you need to make amends.
You will Realize When You Are Close to a Relapse
As you made your way through the 12-Steps, you identified patterns as to why you drank and used. Once you start seeing this old behavior crop up on an inventory, you can nip it in the bud immediately. Letting this behavior continue to ensue can get you closer to a relapse, which would be detrimental to your recovery.
You will Exhibit Exponential Growth
Taking a look at yourself with the perspective of wanting to improve yourself will definitely allow you to grow from the experience. Consistently looking at what you can do better and where you were kind and loving will give you a reason to keep expanding your recovery. A Tenth Step can show you where you are advancing and where you are progressing in positivity. This step will point you in the right direction of where you need to change and allow you to give yourself kudos for a job well done.
You will Clear Your Conscience
One of the best reasons to practice your Tenth Step is to end the day with a clear conscience. Consolidating your resentments, fears, dishonesty, and selfishness will give you a clean slate for tomorrow. You’ll be able to start your day better than if you had not taken this action. You will also get better sleep at night, knowing that you are trying to right your wrongs be the best version of yourself.
Step Ten is often called a “maintenance step.” However, it is a step of acceptance and action that allows personal growth to happen by implementing spiritual principles. This step is between you and your Higher Power, so honesty, humility, and willingness must be present to get the outcome that Step Ten can provide. The more you carry out this step into your daily routine, the more corrective you can become in your thoughts and actions. You can stop repeating negative behaviors and replace them with altruistic ones to serve you and your recovery productively and constructively.
The Detox of Colorado provides various individualized treatment programs that will show you how to live and thrive within the 12-steps to ensure a therapeutic and comprehensive experience. Valiant Detox offers comprehensive detox and transitional services to all of our clients so they can restore their health and prepare for the road ahead. With the power of recovery, clients experience life-changing and personalized healing. Call us today to change your life in recovery: (303) 952-5035
