On Step Six we discussed about the list of character defects I had made although I had found a list with over 129 character defects on it.Off of my own list we discussed the ones I should work on the most.We do our step work out of the Green and Gold step working guide.I found finding character defects and addressing them is a lomg and not easy process.But then making amends and who and how is not easy either.Some amends can hurt worst for you and the one you are amending.Character defects are usually deep routed in us,it takes some real changes to get them out and not let them fester up again.
-- Edited by cdbuckberry on Tuesday 27th of October 2009 08:45:40 PM
Hey Tisa! great avatar i call them pictures!! My 6th step starts with me not only identifying my character defects(very ,very ,large notebook)but making sure I am "ENTIRELY " READY " TO have God remove them,You know how we " like to hang on a little to some of them"Because we are human we will spend rest of our lives trying to 'remove" these defects.If they were all gone we would be 'robots"!!Anyway just 'identifying and be ready"are keys for me in that step...Like our literature tells us 'we better be ready for what we ask for" or this could be trouble!!! How big is our desire for change? have a wonderful day peace
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
My Sponsor made me acknowledge, own and embrace my character defects, all that I had discovered about myself in the process of steps four and five. I was told - if you cannot own something as yours completely, it's not yours at all to be able to change it.
There was a lot of self-love and self-acceptance that I had to practice, 'whipping my self' into submission will not make my Step Six work, again my Sponsor reminded me. I had to own it all just like I would own my virtues, the good side... no difference... without any guilt or shame, embarrassment or stigma attached to it all... once I did this and started living in self-acceptance, I was eased into my Seventh... I found a lot of more freedom and a Power that gave me the right to choose what I can continue to have as part of me and what I could advantageously change...
Also, my first Sponsor had a Sixth Step Inventory that was passed on to me, which I continue to use as my Sixth Step on situations... I continue to find this very helpful in my recovery...
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"If we do an honest examination of exactly what we are giving, we are better able to evaluate the results we are getting."Chapter 10 - Emotional Pain - NA Way of Life.
I did a 4th Step with a particular sponsor. As i was completing it, he fell very ill. We also had differences in idealogy; he was slanting towards have me accept his nreligion as right for me,, whereas I insisted that my won religion was good enough and that NA was "spiritual and not religious."
So as that break up happened, I latched onto Diana, with whom I did the 5th. In the process, she pointed out certain patterns that needed to stop, in order to enjoy ongoing recovery. Though this has been an experience of about 10 years ago, I have been able to sustain that guidance for many years now.
Then there are the many that I draw inspration, insight and energy from,,,
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Raman an addict clean and serene just for today in NA Worldwide ; live to love and love to live the NA Way !!!
On Step Six we discussed about the list of character defects I had made although I had found a list with over 129 character defects on it.Off of my own list we discussed the ones I should work on the most.We do our step work out of the Green and Gold step working guide.I found finding character defects and addressing them is a lomg and not easy process.But then making amends and who and how is not easy either.Some amends can hurt worst for you and the one you are amending.Character defects are usually deep routed in us,it takes some real changes to get them out and not let them fester up again.
