SIXTH STEP
The very act of living Steps One thru Five make us entirely ready, we just need to recognize this and know our defects can be removed. A question that is always asked is, how does God remove all these defects of character?
The answer can be found in the Third Step. Before we can use the Third Step in relation to the Sixth Step, we must do some footwork. Our Higher Power will always work through us and other recovering survivors, as long as we are willing to provide the footwork, our Higher Power will provide the motivation.
One way we do the footwork is to make a list of all our symptoms.
On one side of a piece of paper list defects of character, draw a line down the center of the paper. Across from each defect on the other side of the line we list the opposite of each defect such as:
- Intolerance ............................................................Tolerance
- Fear........................................................................Courage
- Resentments...........................................................Forgiveness
- When did we become aware that we are entirely ready?
- How does our Higher Power remove our defects of character?
- What do I replace my defects with?
- Write your list of defects and their opposites.
After we have completed this list to the best of our ability, we can now focus on assets we wish to have. This becomes a goal.
Remember the Sixth Step says: "We were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove all these symptoms of PTSD" and this is what we did, became entirely ready.
During the Fourth Step we came in touch with our innermost feelings and ourselves.
During our Fifth Step we came in touch with our Higher Power, ourselves and another human being.
During the Sixth Step we used the information from the Fourth and Fifth Steps to see our defects of character and patterns. We looked at them and went through the work of listing them on paper.
All of this adds up to being entirely ready.
Sixth Step Worksheet
Write on a separate piece of paper and return to your Sponsor/Therapist: