After taking the first steps of 12 Step Program, we realize that we need to rebuild our relationship with self, God and others. We do this by working on the steps to better ourselves. These are to renew our self-respect and help us become respectable.



In preparation, we examine ourselves to see what we have, what we haven't got and what needs to go. The Big Book says that a business that doesn't take a regular inventory usually goes broke. One of the main things we need to do is get rid of the horrible guilt and remorse from drinking or using drugs. This is looking at the true source of our problems. Remember that 88% of our problems are behavior and 12% is the chemical. This should be a fact-finding and fact facing process. We need a clear picture of our attitudes and actions. We will discover that selfishness or self-centeredness is the root of all our problems; that false pride leads to self-justification which is spurred on by conscious or unconscious fear which lead to more defects! Some call it a "soul sickness" and we learn that we aren't bad, but we are sick! So, it is important not to condemn ourselves for what we discover about ourselves. Bill W. the founder of AA summed up the character defects of the alcoholic or addict as "immature" and "dependent." The remedy is to grow up emotionally and to build one up emotionally. I like to start with the worst things and that includes the wrongs that cause us regret, shame or guilt. The Big Book reminds us to examine our resentments, fears and sexual conduct. Most guides include about 19 character defects that cover the Seven Capital Sins and the Ten Commandments. It is important to conclude our inventory by affirming oneself and claiming our personal strengths. I like our guide that enables persons to talk about their Faith, Hope and Love as well as the virtues or good habits they are developing since working the program. It ends by sharing the three best things they have ever done.



Now we are ready for the step which says, "Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." It is a good way to deflate our egos and to learn humility. When a person completes this, I usually ask them, "So what did you learn about yourself?" Most people realize that by the grace of God, they are good! The next question I ask them is, "Where are you with forgiveness; knowing you are forgiven, accepting that forgiveness, or is there anything you have a hard time letting go of?" Once again, if the person has been working their program, they are ready to answer this question. It is a very graced moment when they pray the prayer of self-forgiveness and end up by thanking God in their own words. Even the agnostic or atheist experiences the presence of God, whether they claim it or not! I find that when I take a nightly inventory, I gain self-knowledge and realize that taking an inventory is a life long process, not something that you do once in treatment. Perhaps six months after treatment, you will want to repeat this process. Contact a sponsor, a chaplain or clergy person who is familiar with the program and you will be taking another step in your journey of life to wholeness or recovery.



The next step says, "We,re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." I remind them that the 12 by 12 Book says that this is the step that separates the men from the boys or the women from the girls. We symbolize this by burning our inventory and show in a visible way that God has forgiven us and that we are free. Following the advice of the Big Book that says after this, we are to be quiet for about an hour, we carefully review what we have done. During this time, we choose several defects that we would like to work on in our daily inventory and put them in the "God box." This is completing for us when it says, "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." I remind people the more they talk about their defects and spend time in meditation, the more they will change. We ask people to write a letter of gratitude to God, thanking Him for the power to choose and to include a vision goal for a year from now. Most people choose to read their letters daily as a reminder of what they gained in treatment.



So it takes time, it takes prayer; it takes effort to remind ourselves that we are on a life-long process of growth. There are no magic wands to wave over us. We have to take responsibility and ask for help in loving and accepting ourselves just as we are. God does!

Sr. Alma Janousek, ND
Learn more at www.valleyhope.org/drug-rehab-alcohol-rehab-aboutus.aspx or www.valleyhope.org.

Sr. Alma Janousek, ND
Learn more at http://www.valleyhope.org/drug-rehab-alcohol-rehab-aboutus.aspx or http://www.valleyhope.org.