The Think and Do Steps to Recovery

When I'm teaching about the steps to recovery to patients and families, I talk in regards to the 'the working steps'. I describe them in pairs, where the even numbered step is the thinking step and the odd numbered one is the action step. So the sample is: think, do; assume, do; suppose, do. In even steps we turn out to be willing, after which we finally, humbly ask God to remove our defects of character. Only God is aware of which ones want removing (or are removable) and which ones we will need to preserve working on. We're nonetheless human--we don't get issued halos and wings at this level in sobriety. That's part of the humility--we do not get to eliminate all our defects. Some will linger, to keep us humble, and because, I am satisfied, beneath every defect of character there may be some form of blessing. Think about it: the flip aspect of selfishness is studying good boundaries of self care; underneath the defect of blaming others is the asset of accepting private accountability; underneath the defect of resentment is recognition of each our personal limitations and those of others, giving us permission to be human. If we lose our defects, we by no means find our property, so there'll at all times be defects God refuses to take away.

To my mind-set, it is recognition of our continued defects, and the search for property, that begins our work. The 'assume' steps, require us to look again after which look ahead, to what we have performed and what we have to do to 'undo' the consequences of our actions, or in different phrases, clean up our messes. However because we've still received these defects of character, we want to concentrate on them so we don't go create more messes. I inform substance abuse sufferers to begin with amends to themselves by looking at these shortcomings. What do they need to be surrendering to God every day? How will this consciousness help them work their therapy program? Is that this a difficulty they have to be covering with their sponsor, or with a professional counselor? Subsequent they should consider amends to their Higher Power. What are they going to do for their religious aftercare? Continue or repeat their steps with a sponsor? Use a each day devotional like "24 Hours a Day" or "Daily Reflections?" Commit to attend a 12 Step Assembly each week to work on their spirituality? Or discover a church/temple/synagogue that helps them grow in their chosen religion? Solely in any case that do they should begin to consider who else they owe amends to, why and what they need to do as an amend.