step 6

[Lin]

I believe our discussion here was on step 6

"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."

When i got to #6 I had worked a good 4th and 5th step. It says i had to be READY. And that was enough for me. A few of the defects I hung onto for a while. But the ones that were causing me the most problems in my life were the ones I allowed my HP to take from me. I had to do legwork...such as recognizing when I was about to display one of the negative defects. And once I recognized it, I could avoid using it.

The comforting thing about this step is GOD is the one who removed them. I'm jsut the one who has to be ready to ALLOW him to do that.

What are your thoughts on step 6?

LIN

[lildee]

"The comforting thing about this step is GOD is the one who removed them. I'm jsut the one who has to be ready to ALLOW him to do that."

I see this a little differently. God can and does help me to remove my defects/flaws but I am the one who has to recognize them and change them.

Example :- I am a screamer by nature. I am aware of this defect. I have to learn to keep my mouth shut. Yes God can help me recognize this defect and guide me along the way , but I am the one who has to do the work. (Keeping my mouth shut). God will only do for us, what we cannot do for ourselves." Just a slightly different take on the same thing.

[Lin]

Well said Lildee! I loved your example! I also do the footwork, but i se it as God removing them makes it easier on me. It's cool we both see it slightly diferent and it works for both of us!

My visual image is one of the bodybuilding competition thingies where a person lays on a bench and presses up a huge barbell. The person has to lift, do the work, but then as it is placed back in the rack, removed from his hands, other hands appear above him and help remove it.

LIN

[SaraLee]

"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."

My HP gives me the means and the way to have defects of character removed...or transformed. I like seeing it as transformation because I've found that defects can have hidden assets if I use them in a different way, sometimes turning them upside down or inside out.

I have always been shy and often found it hard to hold a decent conversation with people which often left me out when it came to communicating my own thoughts and feelings, but I learned that even if I am shy, when I am an attentive listener and fully engaged, I don't have time to concentrate on my shyness and I not only an a better listenr, I become a willing and excited partner in the conversation. and I can't help but add my two cents.

I believe my God puts wisdom and instruction within my reach through the written word and the example of others. When I'm ready to seek out that council and put it to use, I can say that God has removed my defects or transformed them because it was my action but his plan.
SaraLee

[majestyjo]

Step 6 for me in today, is our chipping away posts.  I don't have the chips in today, I gave them to a sponsee who was new to recovery.  She was also a new single mother, and she had a lot of issues to work through.

For me it was about me, getting honest with me.  It also was about me being willing to change.  Many times I have had to pray and ask for the willingness to be willing to change.

I was told that if I had a doubt about my defects of character, start with the 7 deadly sins and work from there.

[caressa222]

Like your use of the word transformation SaraLee.

We are transformed by working the Steps a day at a time. As I like to say, there are days I need all 12. 🙏