Working the Steps on My Defects

When I am holding tightly to some character defect (I can usually tell by my level of stubbornness), I ask myself these questions: What purpose does this defect serve? What is it doing for me? What price am I paying for holding onto this defect?

Then I work the Steps on the character defect. With Steps One and Two I admit that I am powerless over the character defect and that only God can restore peace to my life. With Steps Three and Four I turn my will over to God and then objectively look at the real consequences of this defect. I work Step Five by talking about the shortcoming with my sponsor and with God in prayer. Then, with the humility that accompanies the understanding that I cannot remove this defect myself, I “let go and let God” by working Step Seven. If I still feel caught in the character defect’s grasp, maybe my Higher Power has more for me to learn. I ask God to remove whatever is blocking me from becoming entirely ready to have the defect removed and then I repeat the process. I have learned that if I am willing, my Higher Power will remove the shortcoming as I am ready to let it go.

Reprinted from S-Anon Twelve Steps, pages 78-79.