The material presented
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It seems to me that we shouldnt have a Step 4 without a Step 5 and then why shouldnt we ask God to remove our shortcomings? Are Steps 4-7 all interconnected? Did/do you do them all separately or together?
Maybe because Ive just begun Step 4, I see Step 8 as beginning an entirely new set of Steps and something I am no where near ready to even begin to look at.
For me, I see step six some what connected (as they all are) but a step to be done on it's own. For example:
If say resentment or being judgmental are a couple of my defects of character (which they are) I may want them gone but am I really ready to let go of them? Maybe you are ready at the time you do your fourth and fifth but I know for myself it just seems to take more time. Then again, it's not like once we do the steps we're done never to go back over them so maybe they do all go together and each time we redo to steps we dig to a deeper level because we are forever changing and growing and ready to deal with issuses we weren't ready for the time before. I guess if we wait for perfection we will never get it done. Like Shrek said," Ogars are like onions, they have layers."
Wow, I had never really thought about this before. Good question Barbara!
Hi Barbara , keep it simple . these steps are numbered 1-12 for a reason . one just natually leads u into another . However if your having a problem say with a step 2 (just and example) it was suggested to me that perhaps the problem wasnt step 2 but actually one. So when ever I got stuck i would back up one step and sure enough there i was hehe.
barbara the steps are in an order for a good reasonn, and as u work with your sponser on them u will see....
the first three???? the give up steps 1,2,3
the 2nd three?? the own up steps....4,5,6
the 3rd three?? the clean up steps 7,8,9
the 4th three?? the grow up steps...10, 11, 12
when i did step 4 i had to "get honest with me" like getting into the "nitty gritty" as to the what i was..how i turned out....how i GOT this way......how i survived my abuse, and what i used to survive it....what i was doing that was helpful for my life....what i was doing that was NOT helpful in my life....and ALL of it i shared with my sponser....
the 5th step is owing what i discovered in step 4 and sharing it with my god and my sponser......the 6th step was "getting myself ready" REALLY ready and willing to be ABLE to get rid of the shortcommings...its like "ok, i am READY, Lord to get rid of this"
step 7th, step is like "ok, i am READY......Lord please remove this from my life"......funny as it sounds , but old habits , like clothing are sometimes hard to get rid of, its like "ok, what is going to be in its place???" we are hesitent to give up the comfortable stuff, but if i work the program and do it right, i can "make myself ready" (step 6) to get RID of the shortcomming that is hurting me/ others......ONE by ONE, i root them out and share about them, make myself ready for my spiritual "surgery" and than "DO IT"
steps 8/9 are the making amends to the people including yourself, that i harmed as a result of my shortcommings............what i did was when i "got with everyone" i discovered my biggest victim was myself and poor God......but i make the amends....with the people i hurt?? i just said "hey i know what i did / said to U, i accept responsibillity for it, i am getting help for my problems and i ask u to forgive me this".....i kept it real short and simple.......i had pretty good luck, cuz somehow if folks know i am in recovery and DOING something about my stuff, getting HELP for my problems, it makes them more open to receive my "owning my stuff---cleaning up my act with them" i had only ONE person attack me and he hates my guts no matter what, anyway, he is a very bitter, negative person, (oldest brother) and he will continue to make bad karma with his hate and putdowns not just to me but others, hes very bitter/ petty and small, but i tried anyway........i cleaned up MY side of the street, and it was about me , not him....if he wants to keep hating me??? well, its his problem not mine..
anyway, i hope this shed some light for U........ttyl, rosie
