The Vital Element for the Growing Plant and for the Soul of the Child – Step 9

Carl Jung smoking a pipe in a winged-back chair w/ sfz title

“An understanding heart is everything in a teacher … . One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling.” “… warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

– Dr. Carl Jung (1875 – 1961) Swiss Psychologist

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How have you been able to respond with gratitude and love or not, lately?

OR

What small amends could help you feel more peaceful today?

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The Gratitude Campaign (2:36) 

Carl Jung’s contributions to AA (1:57)

Dyer on Manifesting Your Dreams Guided Meditation LP (20:34)


ENGLISH ANALYSIS

Gratitude strengthens emotional balance and supports loving action. As Bill Sees It highlights this link and reminds us that gratitude expands the heart. Jung also emphasizes warmth as vital for inner growth (Jung, 1961). His view aligns with Step Nine practices that rely on courage and gentle honesty.

Step Nine asks us to repair harm with humility and sincerity. Moreover, The Basic Truth notes that amends invite renewal and fresh chances (White Bison, 2000). This mirrors Wellbriety teachings that encourage responsibility with compassion for self and others. These ideas show that honest repair requires steady reflection and openhearted diligence.

Amends change us because they shape new habits. Each sincere act helps us release fear. Each careful word helps us build trust. Progress often comes slowly, yet steady movement nurtures emotional clarity. Even small steps restore dignity and strengthen relationships.

However, false pride blocks this renewal. When false pride rises, we may resist guidance from a Higher Power. We may deny responsibility. We may ignore needed action. When we notice this resistance, we gain a chance to choose humility and reconnect to support. Wellbriety reminds us that humility opens healing paths and softens old wounds (Coyhis, 2006).

Gratitude, responsibility, and warmth then work together. They guide us toward connection and healthier community. They strengthen our ability to act with courage during Step Nine.


SPANISH TRANSLATIONS

ZONR POST STANZAS (Spanish)

GRATITUDE FUELS A LOVING HEART –
“Cuando rebosa
de gratitud, el la-
tido del corazón
seguramente re-
sulta en amor
saliente … .” (As Bill
Sees It
, p.
37)

HOW BEST TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THRU OUR AMENDS –
“El amor in-
condicional que
experimentamos re-
juvenecerá nuestra voluntad de vivir,
y cada movimiento positivo de
nuestra parte será igualado por
una oportunidad inesperada.
Mucho valor y fe
entran en hacer una
enmienda y mucho
crecimiento espiritual
resulta.” (The
Basic Truth
,
pp. 41–
42)

Carl Jung Quote –
“Un co-
razón compren-
sivo lo es todo en un
maestro … la calidez es
el elemento vital para
la planta que crece
y para el alma
del niño.”
– Carl Jung (1875–1961)


ANÁLISIS EN ESPAÑOL

La gratitud fortalece el equilibrio emocional y sostiene acciones amorosas. As Bill Sees It muestra este vínculo y recuerda que la gratitud expande el corazón. Jung también enfatiza la calidez como parte vital del crecimiento interior (Jung, 1961). Su visión se alinea con el Paso Nueve, que pide valor y honestidad suave.

El Paso Nueve nos invita a reparar daños con humildad y sinceridad. Además, The Basic Truth señala que las enmiendas despiertan renovación y nuevas oportunidades (White Bison, 2000). Esto refleja las enseñanzas Wellbriety que fomentan responsabilidad con compasión hacia uno mismo y hacia otros. Estas ideas muestran que la reparación honesta requiere reflexión constante y diligencia abierta.

Las enmiendas nos transforman porque crean nuevos hábitos. Cada acto sincero reduce el miedo. Cada palabra cuidadosa fortalece la confianza. El progreso puede llegar lento, pero cada paso nutre la claridad emocional. Incluso avances pequeños restauran la dignidad y refuerzan las relaciones.

Sin embargo, la falsa soberbia bloquea esta renovación. Cuando la falsa soberbia surge, quizá resistimos la guía de un Poder Superior. Tal vez negamos responsabilidad. Tal vez evitamos la acción necesaria. Al notar esta resistencia, ganamos una oportunidad para elegir humildad y volver a recibir apoyo. Wellbriety recuerda que la humildad abre caminos de sanación y suaviza heridas antiguas (Coyhis, 2006).

La gratitud, la responsabilidad y la calidez trabajan juntas. Nos guían hacia la conexión y una comunidad más sana. Fortalecen nuestro valor durante el Paso Nueve.

¿Qué pequeña enmienda podría ayudarte a sentir más paz hoy?


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Comments

7 responses to “The Vital Element for the Growing Plant and for the Soul of the Child – Step 9”

  1. Lotus Avatar

    Some small amends I can make are not holding a lot of grudges against anyone, but still moving on, and if they can change then forgiving them, but if not willing to change that’s when I have to go my separate ways for my own peace of mind, and thus making a different type of amends thus. I’m so chill, and cool that it’s surprising to me when someone can’t seem to change for the better to get along truly with me. There are people out there too that like to make people into what they all want them to be, but that’s not just actions at all. When people have placed their own labels on me(moi), it has been difficult to forgive, but when they all can change their states of mind towards me(moi) it makes it easier to make those amends.

  2. Tony Omaeboo Avatar
    Tony Omaeboo

    Love is in abundance. There is no time like the present to capitalize on it. Learning how to slow down and experience the joy is the problem.

  3. JB jr. Avatar
    JB jr.

    Yesterday I received a very snarky reply in a mass email thread from the leader of an organization. And I chose to refrain from responding rather than replying in kind.

  4. Nicholas B Avatar
    Nicholas B

    After a lifetime of living only for myself (which of course meant only chaos, confusion, and purposeless Id-driven-everything) I have found that living responsibly is SO much easier. It takes the guesswork out of what to do because there is ALWAYS a solution and it is frequently a very clear one.

  5. JB jr. Avatar
    JB jr.

    This is a hard question for me to answer right now because I am not receiving a great deal of love in my life right now. I suppose my mom invited me for Thanksgiving was something that I have overlooked and could have been more grateful at the time.

  6. Slim Jim Avatar
    Slim Jim

    The connection btwn love and gratitude and being happy is becoming clearer and clearer for me. In order for me to be loving, I must be filled with gratitude for what I have and that is what leads to a happy life.

    Incidentally, I went to a meeting last night and the topic was happiness and these themes came up over and over again.

  7. Margot E. Avatar
    Margot E.

    My sponsor started a Gratitude List that one of us sends out each day. I am surprised at the small blessings I take for granted: heat on a cold day, a healthy cat, decent relationships with my children. I have found that the GL gets me centered each morning. Then, when I express gratitude, I can look at the areas where I owe amends and not feel like something that crawled from under a rock. I have to keep going back to Steps 1, 2, 3. I have to keep reminding myself that I have a Higher Power that loves me unconditionally. I owe amends, and I am okay.

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