No one really knows what it takes for an individual to get to a place where they can no longer deny or dispute the obvious facts surrounding the depth of their addiction. For every person, they come to their own place and time if they are to get well. As I previously stated, most of those addicted will either die or live a life that is minimized and happiness if any is realized at all.
According to Wikipedia, The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated. It is a maxim that is found in most religions and cultures. It can be considered an ethic of reciprocity in some religions, although different religions treat it differently.
As a result of this understanding, those of us in personal recovery, realize that to be served we must first serve. In other words, If I want to stay sober, I must be as concerned toward others as I want others to be concerned for me.
As we go down this road of reinventing ourselves, reclaiming the things that we lost is a priority. Two of the areas we lost related to personal power and personal time. Since our life became so out of control any semblance of power was imagined and when it was real it was fleeting. Our personal time was equally affected.
One of the things built into healthy relationships is making amends. This is universal and something that everyone should keep in mind as we explore a healthy balance in our relationships. If this is true for the average person, how much more is it true for the person who has struggled with addiction and or behavioral challenges.