For me, getting honest was hard. I hadn’t really been truly honest with myself, let alone with others. But that was also the most freeing thing I ever did. When I could openly and honestly look at me, my actions, my thoughts, my beliefs and see how ALL of those could change-that is when the door to true transformation opened. When I was too busy denying what was really going on, my world got smaller & more miserable.
Being honest with someone who in recovery who has walked this same path gave me a perspective no therapist ever did. When they spoke my same language, I heard it differently and really got to reframe things.
To this day, I still have to be honest and call my sponsor. I just did this yesterday. I have to own where I am at and sometimes talk through the actions I want to take before I actually do. This prevents me from adding to my amends work later. I am grateful for the pause, for honesty, for this program of action and new way of life as well as those who walk with me in it. It works if I continue to work it, and we are never truly in it alone. 
Thanks Mandi! 
For me, I found doing this step with my sponsor to be invaluable. The amount of insight I gained by working with someone who is not only an alcholic and works this program, but who has had their own experiences that enhances their knowledge to impart their wisdom on me was incredible. She spoke the same language as I did, she got it in a way that for me just getting it off my chest to someone who didn’t walk in these shoes likely wouldn’t have sufficed. As I told my story, she helped me see things in a whole new light-one my own brain wasn’t wired to see yet. After having this step done, I can’t even tell you how much lighter I felt. My secrets kept me sick. But so did my twisted mindset and thinking. I’m SO grateful for the innumerable gifts this program has brought into my life.
For me, reading this chapter tonight correlates to me sharing my thoughts on what I’m reading. Some weeks, I just post the reading and do no reflecting on it. When I do so, am I being of maximum service? No. What I take from these pages may just help a fellow in recovery. I’m always fascinated with what these readings can bring up in me by a few particular lines standing out within the reading.
Another thing I am reminded of, these steps have kept me humbled and on my own side of the street. When I make an amends, their side has absolutely no bearing on what I am doing to clean the wreckage of my past. Ultimately, my actions were fully on me. And I have to not only own that, but be willing to say that out loud and make some hard amends with people. I used to think it was enough to know, but in working this program the real results come from the doing. I appreciate this into action chapter because this is what I needed most in my life. Better actions for better results
Well summarized and stated Mandi. Thank you!
For me, this reading reminds me that just being sober and putting down the drink was never enough. My wrongs have to be owned and corrected to the best of my ability. I had no idea how to really live a healthy life until this program and my sponsor showed me. I was that tornado, though I didn’t see it at the time. I was NO WHERE near as great & wonderful as I thought I was. I did much wrong. I caused damage. And I needed to own that. And live life differently today. I’m SO grateful for this part of my recovery as this is where everything began to really truly change in my life and that’s what I needed more than anything.
