Work it Wednesday - Step 5 (part 2)

Quick review of the steps so far:

Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction and that our lives had become unmanageable.

Step 2 - Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

Step 4 - We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 

Step 5 - Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Last week we talked about finding a sponsor. Do you have a sponsor? If not, what's stopping you from asking someone? If you are uncomfortable with this, realize that it is not a life time commitment. If things don't work out with your sponsor (which happens for a variety of reasons) you can find another one. It's important to have a guide, if you will, through these steps!

While writing your inventory in the 4th step, you may have found that it was difficult to put some of that on paper. A friend recently told me that she had to FORCE her pen to move the thoughts from her mind to the paper. She did not want to admit to someone else that some things in her life had happened. Some of us cover those facts up so well that it seems we are living a double life.

From Meditation for Street Chicks Step 5
Available through our website, click the link to the right

Does this look like you? All business on one side, all drunk on the other? Many of us feel like we have more that two sides. We show one side to the world and the other we keep to ourselves.

Alcoholics and addicts tend to push all the 'stuff' they don't want others to see WAY down deep into their souls. They hope and pray that they never surface. They stay stressed out and afraid of being 'found out'. This leads to more drinking and/or drugging, which leads to more 'stuff' to hide. A vicious circle. Kind of like a dog chasing his tail. This is made worse by things done on a spree. The alcoholic/addict goes on a binge and wakes up with even more things to be ashamed of and sometimes can't remember what really happened.

This double life may lead to isolation and depression. It is much easier to tell the truth than remember all of the lies that you have told. You might feel like you are on the outside looking in, like the odd man out. You are lonely. There is relief from this feeling and it starts with step 5!

From Meditation for Street Chicks Step 5
Available through our website, click the link to the right

This is why it is so important to be honest with ourselves, God and someone we trust. Visiting medical professionals often fail because we are not honest with them. Once you have found a sponsor, that will be able to keep your confidence, don't hesitate. Set a date. Choose a place to meet where you can talk without (much) interruption and remember to allow plenty of time for you to tell your story. Wouldn't it be nice to be on the inside looking out?

Next week on Work it Wednesday - the conclusion to step 5!