Member-only story
Step 6: Are You Ready?
What does it take to make you entirely ready?
“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
First, if you’re not familiar with Twelve-Step recovery programs, it might be helpful to read my stories on the first five steps (here, here, here, here, and here, respectively) before reading about Step Six!
Growing intolerant of myself
To get ready to “take” Step Six (it’s more like developing a desire than making a concrete action), I had to get to the point where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.
By the time I got to this step, I knew myself so well I was completely sick of me. “Surrender” was the key word for me. I had to give up, to cry “uncle.” I had to accept that not only could no one else make me happy, I couldn’t even make myself happy!
Sharing the results of my Step 4 inventory
I had to bring all of my faults and all of my good points to my Higher Power (whom I choose to call “God”), dump them in that patiently waiting lap, and hope that the God consciousness could make something good out of this twisted heap of suicidal ideation and shortcomings sprinkled with a handful of helpful traits.
