Step Five - Admitted to God, to ouselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
From: Paths to Recovery - pg. 54 (copyright 1997, by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Limited use by express written permission of Al-'Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.)
By the time we reach Step Five, we have usually acquired some degree of trust. We have listened to others share openly and with courage at meetings and have seen them lovngly received. We have likely shared ourselves, called people on the phone and found a sponsor. We have practiced trusting others with some truths about ourselves, and hopefylly we are now willing to share our innermost secrets with another human being. We may be filled with anxiety and fear as we approach this task, but we have faith that it is necessary for our recovery.
Love you all - Dot
dot said
Jan 22, 2006
I certainly had a lot of fear and anxiety about Step Five. In fact I put it off for a long time until one night, after a meeting, my sponsor made a comment about herself and my heart and mouth both opened up. I shared all my guilt and shame with her.
What a great feeling of freedom that gave me. She still loved me and wanted me for a friend. That was a turning point in my recovery. I no longer had to hide behind cleaning up after meetings, afraid to talk to people. I could visit with the others and know that I would be safe.
Love and hugs - Dot
wallsal55 said
Feb 20, 2006
I experienced the same thing--I can come out of hiding. And people still wanted to talk to me after revealing what I thought was a terrible me. (that old childhood fear that no one will have anything to with me was false.) I also felt I also by admitting my part in things, I also had a huge burden lifted from my shoulders, AND gave others their responsibilites back to them I had been carrying their secrets, and that was killing me.
When I admitted my exact nature of my wrongs, the lady I was speaking with had been through the exact same thing! And here I was scared to death to "tell" a soul. I admit though, she was the "right one" and I know my HP let me find her.
I experienced the same thing--I can come out of hiding. And people still wanted to talk to me after revealing what I thought was a terrible me. (that old childhood fear that no one will have anything to with me was false.) I also felt I also by admitting my part in things, I also had a huge burden lifted from my shoulders, AND gave others their responsibilites back to them I had been carrying their secrets, and that was killing me.
When I admitted my exact nature of my wrongs, the lady I was speaking with had been through the exact same thing! And here I was scared to death to "tell" a soul. I admit though, she was the "right one" and I know my HP let me find her.
-- Edited by wallsal55 at 20:45, 2006-02-20