The Essence of Recovery Step Nine - Listening

Text and Be Heard What if Step Nine isn’t about delivering the perfect apology, but about finally hearing the truth you’ve been dodging? We take a fresh look at amends and uncover why listening, not speechmaking, is the hinge that turns shame into repair and distance into connection. We start by challenging the urge to control outcomes—no more scripting how others should respond or rushing toward instant forgiveness. Instead, we break down how to take responsibility without the “but you also” trap, and how to open space for the other person’s experience. You’ll hear real stories with a partner and parents that reveal a hard lesson: the deepest wounds are often the small, repeated breaks in presence—missed moments, phones at the table, emotional absence—rather than the dramatic blowups we obsess over. When we ask what hurt most and stay quiet long enough to truly listen, we finally learn what repair looks like to them. From there, we get practical. We walk through a simple framework for Step Nine conversations: set intention, acknowledge harm, invite their perspective, reflect back, and co-create specific repair. We talk about boundaries, restitution, and how technology supercharges secrecy, making transparency and daily structure even more important. And we connect the dots across the steps: moving from self to others in Seven and Eight, practicing empathy in Nine, and then carrying that growth forward through Ten, Eleven, and Twelve so peace, freedom, and serenity stop being slogans and start becoming daily realities. If you’re ready to make amends that actually heal—rooted in humility, accountability, and genuine listening—this conversation is your map. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review telling us one way you plan to practice listening this week. Support the show Recovery is Beautiful. Go Live Your Best Life!! Facebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | Facebook Your EQ is Your IQ YouTube - Life Is Wonderful Hugo V Recovery Freedom Circle The System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character and Helps People Have Better Relationships. A Life Changing Solution, Saves You Time, 18 weeks www.lifeiswonderful.love Instagram - Lifeiswonderful.Love TikTok - Lifeiswonderful.Love Pinterest - Lifeiswonderful.Love Twitter - LifeWonderLove LinkedIn - Hugo Vrsalovic Life Is Wonderful.Love