Making Amends

One of the key aspects of the 12 Step recovery program and for that matter any program directed towards spiritual self discovery is a process of character development and refinement. Most people have amassed a bundle of actions towards others that reduce their spiritual moral sensitivities. This blurring of a person’s natural tendencies towards right and wrong often build and build preventing any sort of self discovery and growth. This can be seen as an engine that has become corroded and unable to perform. The engine is sill there, yet needs to cleaned out to run efficiently.

Making amends for past actions enables a person to clean one’s “engine.” The more one fixes up the damage they have caused to others, the more their inner sense of right and wrong, spiritual connection, and moral clarity can return. As these in built strengths achieve an upward momentum in a person’s body and mind, it becomes easier to control base line animal instincts. When these instincts and desires are controlled self discovery is easier and easier and true spiritual and emotional pleasure is achievable.

12 Steps and Making Amends

One of the most fundamental aspects of the 12 Steps is the ability of the addict to change one’s baseline desire for continuation of a conscious addiction. This is achieved first by a recognition of a higher power, then a submission of the animal desires of the addict to the will of the higher power, and then thirdly this results in a transformation through making a moral amends based on the spiritual and moral clarity gained previously.