Peace: A state free of oppressive or unpleasant thoughts and emotions; a state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony.
We discussed the 9th Step in today's meeting - the amends process. I remind myself that the payoff of these often-difficult and much-feared amends is that The Promises begin to assert themselves with vigor.
"What's the payoff?" alcoholics ask themselves. We don't do anything unless there's a benefit, especially not anything hard.
Peace of mind. That's the payoff, and that's a really large payoff. What gives us more peace of mind than peace of mind? My schtick about the 9th Step includes the assertion that I'm at peace with everyone in the world. There isn't a person alive that I feel the need to avoid because of anything I've done or said in the past (Ed. Note: There are some people I avoid to avoid the irriation that their presence brings me). And I'm pretty much at peace with the world's institutions as well. That doesn't mean I welcome the odd letter from the IRS or the County Elections Board summoning me to jury duty but it does mean I'm not afraid that something in my past needs to be dealt with.
Good to be done with them, though.
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