Step 10: The Daily Practice That Keeps You Free
If the first nine steps of recovery are about clearing the wreckage of the past, Step 10 is about keeping the path clear moving forward. It reads:
“Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”
At first glance, it may sound like a repeat of earlier steps — but Step 10 is where recovery becomes a way of life. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress through awareness, honesty, and daily course correction. This is your personal path forward.
🧭 What Is Step 10, Really?
Step 10 is the practice of ongoing self-inventory. It’s how we stay emotionally sober; by noticing when we’re off track and making amends before resentment, fear, or ego take the wheel.
Not just about spotting mistakes, it’s about:
- Recognizing emotional patterns (anger, fear, jealousy, self-pity)
- Taking responsibility without shame
- Staying spiritually and emotionally aligned
Think of it as a daily tune-up for your recovery engine!
🛠 How to Make Step 10 a Framework for Forward Momentum
Step 10 becomes powerful when it’s woven into your routine. Here’s how to build these proven practices into your day:
- Morning intention: Start with a question — “How do I want to show up today?”
- Spot-checks: Pause during the day when you feel off. Ask, “What’s really going on here?”
- Evening review: Reflect on your actions. Were you honest? Did you hurt anyone? What did you do well?
- Prompt amends: If you were wrong, own it quickly. Don’t let it fester.
Over time, this practice builds emotional resilience. You stop reacting and start responding. You become someone you can trust — and that’s real freedom.
Daily Inventory with Depth
Step 10 Journaling Prompts:
- What did I do today that aligned with my values?
- Where did I fall short, and how can I make it right?
- Did I react emotionally to anything today? What was underneath that?
- Was I honest in my interactions — with others and with myself?
- What am I grateful for today, and what did I learn?
- Is there anyone I need to make amends to — even in a small way?
- What patterns am I noticing in my thoughts or behavior lately?
- How did I practice humility today? How did I resist ego?
These can be used as a nightly reflection or even as a weekly check-in for those newer to the practice.
⏩ When to Move to Step 11
There’s no hard line between Steps 10 and 11 — they’re more like a continuum. When Step 10 becomes a habit, you’ll likely feel a pull toward something deeper: spiritual connection.
Step 11 invites you to:
Seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him…”
If Step 10 is about clearing the channel, Step 11 is about tuning in. You’ll know you’re ready when:
- You crave more than just damage control — you want guidance.
- You’re seeking peace, not just relief.
- You’re ready to listen, not just speak.
💬 Final Thought
Step 10 is where recovery becomes sustainable. It’s not a checkpoint, it’s a rhythm, a way to stay free, one honest moment at a time.
When you’re ready to go deeper, Step 11 will be waiting; not as a leap, but as a natural next breath.
