Step Ten
The Tenth Step In The Path Of Recovery
10. Continued to Maintain a Personal Inventory and Promptly Admitted When We Were Wrong
The tenth step, as explained in The Big Book, involves more than a single daily inventory. It requires us to consistently assess ourselves throughout our day. Imagine observing your own actions, acknowledging the human errors we all make. Unlike others, we have exhausted our options unless we turn to God's strength. Our experiences with powerlessness and chaos have eliminated the possibility of self-driven lives. Therefore, the tenth step is crucial for our ongoing realization that we must “grow in understanding (spiritual realm/6th sense/God Awareness) and effectiveness (daily life)”.
The first nine steps prepare us for the spiritual journey of steps 10, 11, and 12. The tenth step emphasizes staying aware and engaged in our everyday existence. It incorporates several spiritual practices, each worth months of dedication. WATCH. We monitor our inner state, identifying resentment, fear, selfishness, and dishonesty. When these arise, and they will, we ASK God immediately to remove them. Though they may not vanish immediately, our duty is to ASK right away. We decisively TURN our focus to assisting someone or concentrate on our current task. If we err and hurt someone, we swiftly make amends. We uphold a principle of love and patience. We CEASE battling substances, individuals, and situations. Resistance causes suffering. This step helps us recognize and practice surrender moment by moment.
Undoubtedly, the tenth step is the hardest to implement, but its rewards are tremendous. We attain the greatest promise in The Big Book — the STATE of NEUTRALITY. We cease struggling. Genuine humility unfolds. Yet, the tenth step extends beyond this. The authors of The Big Book believed in VISION work. As stated on page 85: “Every day is a day when we must carry a VISION of God’s will into all of our activities.” This represents the proper use of the will. Many people in recovery pray, some also meditate, but few engage in prayer, meditation, and vision work. With these practices, possibilities are boundless. Our role is to cultivate these spiritual abilities to enhance our understanding and effectiveness.
– Anonymous
