Category Archives: step work

The Nature of Our Wrongs

Step 5 states… “Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” So taking from CoDA’s Twelve Steps Handbook and recapping where we’ve been: Let’s clarify a couple of words in that last one.1. Nature: The dictionary defines Nature as… “The forces and processes that produce and controlContinue reading “The Nature of Our Wrongs”

Step 4

Step 4 requires us to do a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This is the step where we begin to see our part in our own lives and relationships. In our inventory we include our behaviors and character defects that have been harmful. This step is not an invitation to be overly criticalContinue reading “Step 4”

Figure It Out is Not a Step

The promise of our program is that when we are diligent in working the program, we will achieve recovery over personal problems of codependence. This occurs differently for everyone. A common denominator is that codependents who work and follow the program increase their own spirituality. Adapted from the Newcomer’s Handbook “I just need to figureContinue reading “Figure It Out is Not a Step”

Came To Believe

In this moment, I can believe that I am never alone; I can experience the sense of freedom that having a Higher Power offers me. I can remind myself that believing is also an action, and if I am willing to practice it, one moment at a time, I will develop faith. Step Two PrayerContinue reading “Came To Believe”

How do I get a sponsor?

This is a common question in our fellowship. Newcomers to our program often wish to find a sponsor quickly. Some of us in the program have found that sponsorship in CoDA can take many forms and proceeding slowly and carefully is advised. One-to-one sponsorship in our program can be tricky due to the nature ofContinue reading “How do I get a sponsor?“

Step 9   Trauma-Informed

by Terrie C. The Aqua CoDA book for Step 8, which is the preparation step for making amends, advises that the first person we need to have on our list is ourselves.  We have harmed ourselves the most and been unable to escape ourselves.  Yet, what most often happens is that we skip over that,Continue reading “Step 9   Trauma-Informed”

step 11, spiritual awareness

by Terrie C.  The principle of Step 11 is SPIRITUAL AWARENESS.  Prayer means asking.  Meditation is a form of listening.  AWARENESS comes from recognizing that we have had a Higher Power who cares for us, even when we may be not in touch with that knowledge.  My experience of prayer is asking the Higher PowerContinue reading “step 11, spiritual awareness”

Justice

an essay on Step 9 by Terrie C. In the Aqua CoDA book for Step 8 which is the preparation step for making amends it advises that the first person we need to have on our list is ourselves.  That we have harmed ourselves the most and been unable to escape ourselves.  Yet, what mostContinue reading “Justice”

Perseverance

by Terrie C I am a survivor of childhood trauma and also ongoing trauma.  In recovery, it has been important to me to acknowledge my successes as well as my mistakes.  In the book THE ADDICTIVE ORGANIZATION by Anne Wilson Schaef and Diane Fassel, they describe codependent behaviors as a fatal disease and say, “InContinue reading “Perseverance”