"We... get a good look at what these defects are doing to our lives. We begin to long for freedom from these defects."
Basic Text, p. 34
Becoming entirely ready to have our defects of character removed can be a long process, often taking place over the course of a lifetime. Our state of readiness grows in direct proportion to our awareness of these defects and the destruction they cause.
We may have trouble seeing the devastation our defects are inflicting on our lives and the lives of those around us. If this is the case, we would do well to ask our Higher Power to reveal those flaws which stand in the way of our progress.
As we let go of our shortcomings and find their influence waning, we'll notice that a loving God replaces those defects with quality attributes. Where we were fearful, we find courage. Where we were selfish, we find generosity. Our delusions about ourselves will disappear to be replaced by self-honesty and self-acceptance.
Yes, becoming entirely ready means we will change. Each new level of readiness brings new gifts. Our basic nature changes, and we soon find our readiness is no longer sparked only by pain but by a desire to grow spiritually.
Just for Today: I will increase my state of readiness by becoming more aware of my shortcomings.
Yes, becoming entirely ready means we will change. Each new level of readiness brings new gifts. Our basic nature changes, and we soon find our readiness is no longer sparked only by pain but by a desire to grow spiritually.
I like this line from the above JFT topic - Our state of readiness grows in direct proportion to our awareness of these defects and the destruction they cause.
I remember my first sponsor telling me "you cannot change what you do not own." I had this tendency back then to share my Fourth and add up that it was just not me, that my true nature was different and I ended up doing so and so only due to my addiction. But contrary to how I justified this way, I found that I continued to practice these patterns not being able to do anything about them, I just cannot break-free and be different. That's where what my Sponsor told me gave me the break-through. I realized I had to not only acknowledge the presence of these defects of character, my dysfunctional patterns, but also own them, and accept the fact that this is exactly my nature. That I made use of such defects and did many things because that's exactly what I was, what I am... that I can only change or my Higher Power could only remove that which is mine, which I own up...
