Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Hazelden Publishing
Unapologetic Amends: Forgiveness and Step Nine
Unapologetic Amends: Forgiveness and Step Nine
Unapologetic Amends: Forgiveness and Step Nine
Thursday 8th September 2022
Join William C. Moyers and Maria Hornbacher on 'Recovery Road' as they discuss forgiveness and Step Nine in the recovery journey.
9 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
Hopeful
Healing
About this podcast
Author:
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Creative Recovery Journeys
Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Navigating Challenges in Recovery
Healing Relationships
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Episodes:
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Get the buttons here!Unapologetic Amends: Embracing Forgiveness and Step Nine
Working step nine helps us to finally repair the broken ties and it makes it possible for us to believe in our capacity for relationships in the future. It lifts the burden of guilt we have carried for so long.
Ever feel like your past mistakes are haunting you? In this thought-provoking episode of 'Recovery Road', host William C. Moyers chats with author Maria Hornbacher about the challenging yet liberating process of making amends in Step Nine of recovery. Drawing from her book, *Sane: Mental Illness, Addiction, and the Twelve Steps*, Hornbacher offers a raw and honest look at how addiction and mental illness can blur the lines of accountability, making the journey to forgiveness a complex one.
Hornbacher doesn't shy away from the tough questions. She explains how self-forgiveness is a crucial part of the amends process, stating, "The principle at work in step nine is forgiveness. As we work this step, we are not only asking others how we can be forgiven. In some cases, we are also forgiving them, and we are forgiving ourselves". This episode dives deep into the emotional labor of letting go of resentment and anger that have long poisoned relationships.
One of the standout moments is when Hornbacher discusses taking responsibility for harm done while acknowledging the impact of addiction and mental illness on one's actions. She shares, "When in doubt, I expressed that very doubt to the person to whom I was making amends. I first acknowledged that I'd done harm, then explained that I had been suffering from both addiction and mental illness at the time".
This level of honesty can be a powerful tool in healing broken ties. The episode wraps up with a focus on living amends and the power of healthy, interconnected relationships. Hornbacher beautifully puts it, "Those relationships are one of the gifts of step nine. They are the web of human closeness, of giving and receiving, of living healthy, spiritually sustaining, interconnected lives".
If you're on a recovery journey or supporting someone who is, this episode offers invaluable insights into the transformative power of forgiveness and making amends. Tune in to hear more about Hornbacher's experiences and her wisdom on navigating co-occurring disorders and building a healthier future.