October is the 10th month, so we are spotlighting the 10th Step of Alcoholics Anonymous. Share with us how the 10th Step has changed your life.
“Every evening before I close my eyes, I take a personal inventory of my day and ask myself if I have harmed others in any way, if I have been selfish or self-seeking in my motives and if so, to give me the humility and courage to make amends as soon as possible. Â For me, all those other Steps had to come first in early sobriety and the first year or so that followed – and I am so thankful I was able to stay sober just long enough to get through all the Steps once, in order to use them in my life daily, so all the “mess” doesn’t build up and I don’t have to be bogged down mentally with my wrongs. Â This Step is crucial daily to save me from living in hurt and harm of myself and others.”
– Bobbie Jo
“Step 10: Tells us to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear. Love & tolerance of others is our code: Step 10’s “Spot Check” Inventory has helped me to sleep at night. Â
“My big example is how Step 10 helped me to apologize to my deceased husband, who had been chronically ill for about 6 years. After counseling all day – having love and tolerance of my caseload of patients, I often found myself – due to fear (of husband’s dying – when taking my inventory) not showing love and tolerance at home.” Â
“Brian died 7 months ago, and I am so glad that I have availability to Step 10’s Spot Check Inventory, so that I do not have to carry around “Guilt” due to my actions.”
– Judy L.
“The 10th step to me is a very important part of the 12 Steps. As far as I can tell it is to show yourself you can control your own life and you can think before you act. You no longer have to live life like a person who needs a substance to get through the day. You start to think about what would help you and/or another person you feel certain emotions towards when it comes to certain situations. You make an inventory of your day each day and ask yourself questions like were you resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discusses 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 others and what we could do for others of what we could pack into the stream of life?”
“You now do your best to do well for not just you but also others find a piece of mind with what has happened in your day. “We will comprehend the word ‘serenity’ and we will know peace”
-Jacob J.
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