Reasoning Together
Admitting to another human being meant my secrets were out in the open and that I could reason things out better with someone else.
Last week I completed my Step Five and something unexpected happened. As I was sharing my inventory out loud I started seeing connections I hadn't seen before. Patterns became clear. The exact nature of my wrongs revealed itself through the speaking. I understood things about myself I couldn't understand alone.
Admitting to another human being meant my secrets were out in the open and that I could reason things out better with someone else. This captures what happened. The secrets lost their power when spoken. And being able to reason things out with someone else gave me perspective I couldn't access by myself.
Something about having a witness changes how I see my own story. When I'm alone with my inventory I can stay stuck in shame or justification. But when I share it with another person I hear it differently. I notice things. I understand connections. The witness helps me reason through what my behavior reveals.
This is why admitting to another human being matters. It's not just about breaking isolation – though that's essential. It's also about gaining perspective through the reasoning we do together.
After Step Five, I can continue practicing this skill of reasoning things out with someone else. When I'm stuck in my own head unable to see clearly, I can call my sponsor and talk it through. The perspective that comes from sharing out loud is a tool I can use repeatedly.
