KEY 10: SPIRITUAL MAINTENANCE
Step Ten: “[We] continued to take a personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.”
Key Ten: “I am in tune with my inner self. With integrity, love and self-compassion, I acknowledge my mistakes, and continue to clean up the mistakes of my past and present.”
How It Works
By the time you get to Key #10, you have been restored to wholeness to a very large degree. Sometimes it’s hard to accept just how much you’ve changed and it’s hard for people who knew the “old” you to accept how much you’ve grown and changed. Even though you might still struggle with false beliefs about separation from God and unworthiness, you are not the same person you were prior to the beginning of this work—and you’ve grown so much more than you think you have.
The Work
Set your intention by saying quietly to yourself or out loud:
“I am awake and aware of my God-self through the spiritual discipline and maintenance of my consciousness. I cherish my freedom as an awakened spirit and will go to any lengths to maintain it.”
Contemplate
I am starting to experience a new sense of freedom and peace. I’m feeling more confident and alive. I am consciously connected to Spirit.
I choose to stop battling conditions and appearances—even my addictions. Sanity has been restored. I am whole, perfect and complete.
I’ve been enough all along. I’ve been amazing all along. Where I couldn’t see before, my inner sight has been restored. I am clear.
This clarity is contingent upon my spiritual maintenance. I will stay alert and aware of any false beliefs, wounds and inappropriate actions, and clean them up through prayer, Journaling and making amends where I’ve caused harm.
Journaling
What false beliefs and fears have resurfaced at this point?
What resentments are showing up in your life again?
Are you willing to clean them up as soon as possible? How?
What are the wonderful experiences you’ve had at this point in the process?
Did you feel fear about your worthiness when these wonderful experiences occurred? What were those fears?
Did you walk through the fear differently than you would have been able to in the past because of the work you’ve done so far? How was it different?
Are you willing to go to any lengths to maintain your new-found freedom and peace?
What are you waiting for? Get to it!
Affirmations
“I am in tune with my inner self. When I am out of alignment with Truth, my intuition informs me, and I listen. I promptly correct my mistakes as they are revealed to me with love, clarity and integrity.”
“I am a constant gardener of my consciousness. I weed out what no longer serves me and continue to plant seeds of love, worthiness and wholeness. The garden of my mind is a reflection of the mind of Spirit.”
Action Steps
Put your hand on your stomach. Feel if you have tension there. That tension is present when you feel fear and anxiety, isn’t it? That feeling is your inner child informing you “I’m scared,” “I’m not enough,” “I’m unworthy,” “I’m ugly and fat.”
If you are not spiritually conscious (or have not been diligent in your spiritual practice)—you will believe these false beliefs—and you will act from that place of misaligned belief.
The process in Key #10 is to take stock of what’s going on when feelings of fear or resentment pop up.
When they do, take a short inventory, which includes the amends process if appropriate, and proceed to clean up negative energy. Here’s how:
In your Journal, set up a page with the date and the title, “Inventory.” Below, create four rows: I’m resentful of, I believe, I fear, Fear-based actions. See the example for how to use this Inventory chart to take hold of your emotions and clear up negative energy.
Clear up any issues that come up in this way. Be sure to check in with yourself periodically, so you don’t let too much time go by with out addressing this critical part of your spiritual practice.