February 26

If God forgives us in the Seventh Step, then we have to forgive ourselves because we're not greater than God. The Eighth Step provides this Process, looking at our Fourth Step list is a start. At this point our list usually doubles because after doing a personal inventory we saw the exact nature of our wrongs and patterns. We were no longer victims, our Eighth Step reveals that we put ourselves in a position to be harmed by others.

Defending ourselves, we harmed others; we were still at fault for being there. The lifestyles we lived in active addiction affected us at a deep level, we warped our personalities. No matter how much damage we caused others, we hurt ourselves the most at a deep level.

The guilt and remorse caused self-hatred, so we used more drugs not to feel. The Eighth Step provides a way out, but we must change our old ways. Steps Four, Five, and Six forced us to look at ourselves, the results were that we gained Self-Acceptance.

Where before we didn't have a choice, we have one now. Our Spirits awoke as a result of the prior Steps, we were given the tools to negotiate the next Step. In Step Seven our Hearts began to Recover, and we received Courage from our Higher Power along with Spiritual tools.

God had forgiven us, so we had to forgive ourselves and others. This was a giant Step from the way we used to live. We developed Compassion as a result; we were able to finally see our part and sought to correct it.

We made the list and became Willing. We now are actually preparing to be Willing to look for the people we had harmed.

This is a mighty stride from the way we used to live, and we can't do it alone. We need our Sponsor's Guidance and Support and God's Power and Spirit.