HARM DOES NOT HAPPEN IN A VACUUM – ” … Step Eight isn’t simply a restatement of our inventory. We are now looking for the people, places, and institutions we harmed, not just the types of harm we inflicted. [We] didn’t just lie; we lied to someone. [We] didn’t just steal; we stole from various people.” (It Works, How & Why, p. 56 to cause harm)
"OUR REAL PURPOSE" - "Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us." (The Big Book, p. 77) "The principle of service ... is not a passive principle. To be of maximum service to the still-suffering addict, we must energetically seek to carry our message throughout our cities, towns, and villages. (It Works, How & Why, p. 152) "Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity." - Buddha (563 B.C. - 483 B.C.) ancient…
LETTING GO OF SELF-OBSESSION - "Most of us owe amends to at least one person who has also harmed us. Perhaps we haven't truly forgiven that person yet. We must let go of resentments and focus on our part in the conflicts in our lives. We won't get better...if we are still in the grip of self-obsession." (It Works, How & Why, p. 55 on self-delusion) FREES US FROM SELF-DELUSION'S PRISON - "Some of us, though, tripped over a very different snag. We clung to the claim that when drinking we never hurt anybody but ourselves." (12 & 12, p,…
OUR PAST MAY INSPIRE PERSONAL CHANGE - "Even though we can't undo the past, our experience has shown that we still need to look at what we've done and acknowledge the damage we've caused. Despite the impossibility of changing what happened, we can start to make amends by not repeating the same behavior." (It Works, How & Why, p. 58) LESSONS FROM THE DEBRIS - " ... having had cleaned away the debris of the past, we consider how, with our new found knowledge of ourselves, we may develop the best possible relations with every human being we know." (12…