It made me realize i had never actually done the steps 6 and 7 as set out in the into action chapter of the alcoholics anonymous big book despite having been sober 12 years. He said, in effect if you have a resentment you want to be free of, if. Filled with practical information for those first days of sober living, this little book offers newcomers advice about the program, how long it takes, and what to look for in a sponsor. The big book is the most important piece of literature used by the group. Jan 08, 2020 breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous we admitted to god, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This is a great question and highlights the spiritual malady of addiction. This brings us to the fifth step in the program of recovery mentioned in the preceding chapter. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, selfdelusion, selfseeking and selfpity. Bob, anne smith, and perhaps even bill wilson, with much of the fodder that caused them to focus on james and conclude that. In depression, if self pitying behaviour continues, it can lead you to feeling overwhelmed, and helpless. Apr 26, 2010 add a daily prayer and reflection period in which you present your character defects to god with the willingness to let god decide what to remove and when.
The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. Read read of step 4 resentments in the big book the final 4 paragraphs, pp. It is during this step that you must be completely willing and ready to have the god of. Step 6 ready to remove defects of character youtube. However the word ready is a reminder that we are prepared, open and available. Step six were entirely ready to have god remove all these defects of character. Origins of moral inventory aa the original way group. They characterize us, governing the way we conduct ourselves and live out our lives. So declares a wellloved clergyman who happens to be one of a. This is the step that separates the men from the boys. The book alcoholics anonymous, aka the big book, is the basic text for the aa program of sobriety. It is an open invitation to partner with our higher power and make a firm decision to let go of the character defects or flaws that have been in control for years. Four sentences that boil down to a single question. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve.
When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this but does not suggest writing anything down. It is common to hear readings from the book at meetings. Character in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. My sponsor had me find a new way to drive to work every single day as part of step 6. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves reading. Step five of aas alcoholics anonymous twelve step program is essential to the fundamental change of personality required to overcome an alcohol andor drug addiction. Checklist of flaws and assets 4 character defect opposite asset 4 aggressive, belligerent goodnatured, gentle angry2 forgiving, calm, generous apathetic interested, concerned, alert apprehensive, afraid calm, courageous argumentative, quarrelsome agreeable arrogant, insolent unassuming, humble attacking, critical fair, selfrestrained. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover as of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. May 12, 2016 devora recently commented on the posts on unselfishness.
Aa doesnt require that you believe in any specific god. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our. Defects of character program theory alcoholics anonymous. Character defects are described in the big book as flaws in our makeup which caused. He said, in effect if you have a resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or the thing that you. Want jason wahler inperson for your next gathering. Selfishness and character defects emotional sobriety and food.
List of character defects and assets in the business world, when a company does an inventory or balance sheet, they list the assets and the liabilities. Character in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. If you are suffering from alcoholism, or other addictions, selfpity has the potential to kill you. Were entirely ready to have god remove all these defects of character. The prayer i mentioned, from the big book of alcoholics anonymous, is a simple and profound way to establish this attitude. When breaking down step six i like to focus more on the word ready than entirely. Some members can recite passages without even looking at the text. Hence our reader will find many references to the runners bible in footnotes in our title the good book and the big book. Devora recently commented on the posts on unselfishness. He goes on to explain that any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try re. This is a big misconception about alcoholics anonymous and one that causes some people to avoid. One of the things that struck me as odd about 12step recovery is that we spend a lot of time thinking. When the word optional is used in the worksheets, it means that the big book suggests doing this.
Take each major character defect and write three to five. The big books way to be rid of resentment pages 63 67. Going over the questions, you ask that the person be honest and admit his defects to himself, to you, and to god where two or more are gathered in his name, there shall he be. Then fear, in turn, generates more character defects. Jun 22, 2018 aa speakers joe and charlie steps 5, 6, 7, and 8 the big book comes alive duration. List of character defects for 12 step recovery work heres a list i found. The big book of aa uses the word powerless once, and the word power over 65 times. Jul 20, 2010 most people think of aa as a spiritual process with its main emphasis on giving it all up to god or a higher power. The big book explains that we must make a list that includes all our resentments we have and have ever had, an account of sexual conduct and our fears. Recovery is a journey of continued spiritual, moral, and emotional growth, and to practice these principles in all our affairs the path that takes us beyond physical to emotional sobriety and the happiness and freedom the program promises and we naturally long for. This is a big misconception about alcoholics anonymous and one that causes some people to avoid meetings. In the old days, these character defects were seen as the underlying psychodynamics that caused the addiction. Devora asked, the big book talks about a 100 forms of fear.
If you got through both of those steps, good job on your achievement. Thus seen, recovery is a lifelong process of surrendering the one and growing in the other. The big book of alcoholics anonymous spends only a single paragraph on step 6. It is the basic text of the fellowship of alcoholics anonymous, and has helped large numbers of alcoholic men and women, young and old, recover.
Ive always been curious as to the huge difference between the list of character defects between the big book and the 12 and 12. Big book workbook is for those who are willing to grow along spiritual lines 60. Alcoholics anonymous also known as the big book in recovery circles sets forth cornerstone concepts of recovery from alcoholism and tells the stories of men and women who have overcome the disease. Breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Does alcoholics anonymous work because its a form of. The character defects to be turned over to god are resentment prayer on page 552 of the aa big book. Step 6 introduces the phrase defects of character, which requires some comment. Among the positive traits, aa highlights such virtues as acceptance. Where are the steps outlinedlaid out in the big book. The big books way to be rid of resentment pages 63 67 instructions.
Step four asked you to compile a moral inventory and step five asked that you share your wrongs with your chosen higher power and with a discreet person that you trust. Part of the rehab and recovery process for substance abuse means identifying our personal character defects and recognizing how we let our character defects hinder recovery. Jan 07, 2020 breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous. The sixth step of alcoholics anonymous is an excellent example of that point and is often seen as the step that separates the men from the boys or the women from the girls. Fourth step inventory these fourth step worksheets use the wording from alcoholics anonymous the big book pages 6371. Defects of character alcoholics anonymous cleveland. It is the main breeder of fear, a soulsickness in its own right p. Aug 15, 2016 5 ways your character defects hinder your recovery recognizing character defects in others is sometimes easier than recognizing our own. Self pity is a habitual behaviour that drags you into depression. These are meetings where the focus is on studying the big book. These spiritual and character defects, says the program, are where we addicts must eventually focus if we are to stay sober and ever to be happy, joyous and free, and the twelve steps are designed to help the addict or alcoholic take these on, systematically and incrementally, but habitually, one day at a time.
The part of the book that discusses working on character defects is called into action for a reason. As of december 2009, 30,664,881 copies of the big book have been sold or otherwise distributed source aa gso ny. Box 459, grand central station new york, ny 10163 website. List of character defects for 12step recovery the symptoms of spiritual awakening set aside prayer 12step prayers index for the big book i am your disease promises of alcohol vs aa letting go acceptance was the answer the doctors opinion the 6 original steps in bill ws handwriting principles of the 12step recovery process recovery process. List of character defects and assets realistic recovery. The fourth edition includes twentyfour new stories that provide contemporary sharing for newcomers seeking recovery from alcoholism in a. I like that you describe more than just praying to have the defects removed but actually acting differently even though it went against the grain. Twelve step prayers spiritual alcoholics anonymous cleveland. Breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Pages 60 and 61 in alcoholics anonymous devote two paragraphs to. Working on the seventh step requires constant thoughtfulness. Step six of aas alcoholics anonymous twelve step program of recovery is all about the.
T his is the step that separates the men from the boys. They had seemed so simple in the aa big book that i had searched around to repress my character defects some other way for several years. Step 6 is an important step in recovery for several reasons. Breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous jason wahler. Aas are often asked what is the difference between defects of character in step six and shortcomings in step seven. Aa tells us and personal experience confirms that not drinking is not enough. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics anonymous. He goes on to explain that any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try repeatedly step six on all his faults without any reservations. Most people think of aa as a spiritual process with its main emphasis on giving it all up to god or a higher power.
Removing defects of character page 62 of the big book whatever our protestation, are not most of us concerned with ourselves, our resentments, or our selfpity. Over the years many lists of virtues that correspond to each of the twelve steps and their underlying spiritual nature have been printed in local area aa newsletters and on pocket cards. This is the original study guide to the big book, alcoholics anonymous. Add a daily prayer and reflection period in which you present your character defects to god with the willingness to let god decide what to remove and when. But if pride is the breeding ground of all character defects, humility is the nourishing soil of all the virtues. We think we have done well enough in admitting these things to ourselves. I always wonder why bill and the writers decided to make such a drastic change. Did you find your solution in the big book of alcoholics anonymous.
Step 5, once a simple conversation of the aa members selfcentered character defects and the. Lydias character defect list visit her site for updated versions of this list. Now we can aim at the very best of all we know or can learn. All bb quotes are from the 1st edition of the big book. She asked a great question on selfishness and our other character defects. Aa speakers joe and charlie steps 5, 6, 7, and 8 the big book comes alive duration. Defects in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The inventory is of our defects, not our incidents. Breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous we admitted to god, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Our character is the sum total of moral traits, attributes, or qualities that make up our moral selves. Character defects and the big book this thread is a listing of some of the character defects and where they are referred to in the big book as well as thoughts on each. The 12 steps of aa are the principles of the program that we practice, as listed in the big book, pages 59 and 60. List of character defects for 12 step recovery work realistic.
Flaws in our makeup is perhaps the simplest definition of character defects in the big book. Implicit in this idea is a relinquishment of personal responsibility, free. It is during this step that you must be completely willing and ready to have the god of your understanding remove the character defects. Character defects character defects are described in the big book as flaws in our makeup which caused our failure and as manifestations of self, expressions of our spiritual disease of selfishness and selfcenteredness. Moral inventory became part of deep self surrender. Our goal is to study the steps as a friendly, focused group, and work them as the authors of the big book described. Breaking down step seven of aa alcoholics anonymous. Grant me strength, as i go out from here, to do your bidding. Remember that as recently as dsmii, alcoholism and addiction were listed as personality disorders american psychiatric association, 1968.
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