Resentment, Anger
(*)AA Steps 6 and 7
If we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable. Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can He now take them all - every one? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.
When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen." We have then completed Step Seven.
Research indicates that there are approximately 21 defects of character. 7 of them (PALEGGS) are also known as deadly sins.
Resentment, Anger
(*)
Fear, Cowardice
Self pity
Self justification
Self importance,
Egotism
Self condemnation,
Guilt
Lying, Evasiveness,
Dishonesty
Impatience
Hate
False pride,
Phoniness, Denial (*)
Jealousy/Lust (*)
Envy (*)
Laziness
Procrastination/Sloth (*)
Insincerity
Negative Thinking
Immoral thinking
Perfectionism,
Intolerance
Criticizing, Loose
Talk, Gossip
Greed (*)
Gluttony (*)
The Big Book says that Fear is a major cause of our problems. Until all our character defects are uncovered and exposed in Steps 4 and 5, and cast out in Steps 6 and 7, the old thought system still has a basis for return. In Step 6 we again demonstrate courage, willingness, trust in our Higher Power, and a few more assets that we have begun to develop, integrity, determination, consistency, and diligence as we repeatedly apply Step 6 to all our character defects - without any reservation of mind or body whatsoever.
Step 7, in all its simplicity, with a simple prayer, is in fact the completion of the decision made in Step 3, in which we have abandoned ourselves to our Higher Power.