Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading drop the rock. Oct 03, 2018 the big book of alcoholics anonymous refers to these behaviors as defects of character, and we must be willing to change them in order to remain rooted in our recovery. Stools and bottles a study of character defects 31 daily. 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. Aug 15, 2016 5 ways your character defects hinder your recovery recognizing character defects in others is sometimes easier than recognizing our own. Step 6 is the getting ready for removal stepthe step that can bring noticeable change when it comes to our thought patterns and behaviors. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, selfdelusion, selfseeking and selfpity. Step 6 introduces the phrase defects of character, which requires some comment. Then, again, on the last page of the step seven essay in the twelve steps and twelve traditions, we read. May 12, 2016 devora recently commented on the posts on unselfishness. The prayer i mentioned, from the big book of alcoholics anonymous, is a simple and profound way to establish this attitude. May 02, 2019 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. The part of the book that discusses working on character defects is called into action for a reason. Heres a list i found of possible character defects to consider while doing stepwork.
Thus seen, recovery is a lifelong process of surrendering the one and growing in the other. Most people think of aa as a spiritual process with its main emphasis on giving it all up to god or a higher power. Then fear, in turn, generates more character defects. Its always the last one because its so present in your body. 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. On desire, fear and the activation of our character defects. But if pride is the breeding ground of all character defects, humility is the nourishing soil of all the virtues. 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.
William arthur ward on risk types of dysfunctional families. I ve always been curious as to the huge difference between the. 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. Visual aids, consisting of a threelegged stool and eight empty whiskey bottles, were used to portray the intangible factors of these fundamental steps. May 17, 2011 in step four, we see how the word fear occurs again and again in the third column of our resentments list. It can start with the misuse of my imagination through fear, then i will pretend the fiction i just created has or is about to happen, then i will try to control or manipulate the people and events in. 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. Character defects in the 12n12 within the book twelve steps and twelve traditions, affectionately know as the 12n12 by aa members, some examples of character defects are. It can start with the misuse of my imagination through fear, then i will pretend the fiction i just created has or is about to happen, then i will try to control or manipulate the people and events in my life, so everyone will be ok. Within the book twelve steps and twelve traditions, affectionately know as the 12n12 by aa members, some examples of character defects are. There are 31 mentions of pride, 3 of prideful, and 1 of proud. And should you wish to read the big book online, then you can click here.
Step six were entirely ready to have god remove all these defects of character. Devora asked, the big book talks about a 100 forms of fear. However the word ready is a reminder that we are prepared, open and available. The inventory is of our defects, not our incidents. Remember that as recently as dsmii, alcoholism and addiction were listed as personality disorders american psychiatric association, 1968. I always wonder why bill and the writers decided to make such a drastic change. When i first began to hear people in aa talking about character defects i presumed i possibly had one or two. The second stage of step six is becoming entirely ready to have god remove all these defects of character. The only exception to the big books instruction is a 5th column, whereby we identify what we can do differently in the future. 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. Flaws in our makeup is perhaps the simplest definition of character defects in the big book. Now we can aim at the very best of all we know or can learn. 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.
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. The chief activator of our defects of character has been selfcentered fear primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or. Our character is the sum total of moral traits, attributes, or qualities that make up our moral selves. The chief activator of our defects of character has been selfcentered fear primarily fear that we would lose something we already possessed or would fail to get something we. It is also valuable to read the big book for specific topics or subjects. The big books way to be rid of resentment pages 63 67. Character in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Defects of character program theory alcoholics anonymous. Because for people with alcoholism and addiction, our character defects arent. List of character defects for 12 step recovery work realistic. Hes got all the defects of character that an actor loves to play. 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.
Selfishness and character defects emotional sobriety and. Devora recently commented on the posts on unselfishness. Schaberg presents an exciting, researchdriven narrative of the history of the book, alcoholic anonymous, and the formative years of a. Step 4 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 big books way to be rid of resentment pages 63 67 instructions. A new set of problems start to surface when it gets to this level. 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. It is different when a person tries to reject parts of themselves. Were entirely ready to have god remove all these defects of character. Removing character defects steps six and seven kindle edition by p. Aas are often asked what is the difference between defects of character in step six and shortcomings in step seven. It is these character defects that block alcoholics from the spiritual solution and connecting to a higher power that will relieve their alcoholism. Fear is big and real and heavy and it rears its ugly head almost constantly in the lives of us addicts and alcoholics.
This is a great question and highlights the spiritual malady of addiction. Core character defects 4 study from the bottom of page 63 to the end of page 65 and then follow its instructions. It is the main breeder of fear, a soulsickness in its own right p. In 12 step recovery programmes, selfpity is recognised as a character defect.
I always wonder why bill and the writers decided to. For some, it may be helpful to sit with a sponsor and list our character defects, which include. List of character defects for 12 step recovery work heres a list i found. When breaking down step six i like to focus more on the word ready than entirely. So when you hear talk about removing character defects it might mean additive thinking in the face of fulfilling the need to belong. Together, i believe, they set out the primarily mental aspect of alcoholism, as well as a good. This is a big misconception about alcoholics anonymous and one that causes some people to avoid. Character defects in 12 step programmes wrongs, shortcomings. Thoughts, character defects, and awakening consider, if you will, the following short, succinct, yet powerful statements taken from different sections of the big book of alcoholics anonymous, reshuffled and juxtaposed in a different order. So declares a wellloved clergyman who happens to be one of a. Defects of character alcoholics anonymous cleveland. This book walks you through the thought processes of recognizing, identifying and eliminating those defects of character or shortcomings which cause us to remain unhappy, unsatisfied and unsuccessful in life.
Defects in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. Ive always been curious as to the huge difference between the list of character defects between the big book and the 12 and 12. Dec 07, 2018 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. Removing character defects, steps six and seven 2nd. Does alcoholics anonymous work because its a form of. 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. Liabilities and assets checklist for a moral inventory. Destructive behaviors usually reflect underlying character defects, which is the engine that drives most of our offthewall actions. We think we have done well enough in admitting these things to ourselves. A practical guide to letting go of the character defects that get in the way of true and joyful recovery. As stated in the big book on page 62, first paragraph.
Dealing with character defects cardinal house recovery. They characterize us, governing the way we conduct ourselves and live out our lives. T his is the step that separates the men from the boys. 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. Some years ago the author of the little red book worked out a novel presentation of the first four steps of the a. Breaking down step five of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. 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. But, i also thought, oh, man, im going to go for it. Find all uses of this word in the big book alcoholics anonymous and the twelve steps and twelve. I liked scream of the banshee because it was a real challenge. 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. Lydias character defect list visit her site for updated versions of this list anger, hatred. Character in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and.
Awareness of character defects in what ways are my defects really basic human traits that have been distorted by my own selfcenteredness. The first stage involves a detailed look at the acquired character defects that we are aware of at this point in the program. In step four, we see how the word fear occurs again and again in the third column of our resentments list. The big book of alcoholics anonymous refers to these behaviors as defects of character, and we must be willing to change them in order to remain rooted in our recovery. Granted extensive access to the groups archives along with several other sources, the author reveals the early fellowships conflicts and personalities, successes and. I knew definitely that i drank much too much but aside from that fact i was a pretty good guy. Granted extensive access to the groups archives along with several other sources. The big book of alcoholics anonymous spends only a single. List of character defects for 12 step recovery work.
This brings us to the fifth step in the program of recovery mentioned in the preceding chapter. Breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous jason. Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Selfishness and character defects emotional sobriety and food. For example, one can read it for all the character defects mentioned, or the promises made, or the times it says recovered rather than recovering. He goes on to explain that any person capable of enough willingness and honesty to try re. I needed to go to the very brink of suicide before i realised that selfpity was a character defect that i needed to address. 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 sixth step directions are in the big book on the top of page 76 in one paragraph. Jan 07, 2020 breaking down step six of aa alcoholics anonymous. She asked a great question on selfishness and our other character defects. Dec 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. Stools and bottles a study of character defects 31 daily meditations. In the old days, these character defects were seen as the underlying psychodynamics that caused the addiction.
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