Alcoholics Anonymous Step 6: Become Ready to Remove Your Flaws

What Is Step 6 of AA?

Step 6 of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) states: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

What Is the Purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous Step 6?

The purpose of step 6 of AA is to become completely willing to release your defects to your higher power.¹ This step is important to a person’s spiritual growth in that they trust their higher power and the process of recovery enough to let go of their defects and no longer be defined by them. The defects of character can vary from person-to-person, though they tend to be related tot he attitudes, behaviors, and outlooks that contributed to one’s struggles with addiction.

How Do You Complete Alcoholics Anonymous Step 6?

While the ways in which one can complete Step 6 of AA will vary, it helps if one is able to:

• Be willing to trust that your higher power can remove your defects.
• Acknowledge that ridding yourself of your desire to drink and your other defects is a continual process.
• Be willing to accept that you are not perfect.

What Are Some Tips for Completing Step 6 of AA?

Some helpful tips for completing Step 6 of AA include:

• Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t conquer all your defects immediately or even over a longer period of time.
• You’re a work in progress. Celebrate small victories in your recovery.
• Keep an open mind and remain humble throughout your journey.

What Are Some Myths About Step 6?

A higher power refers to the Christian God.

This is a big misconception about Alcoholics Anonymous and one that causes some people to avoid meetings. Higher power can be of your own choosing; AA doesn’t require that you believe in any specific God. What matters is learning to trust in your higher power through the recovery process.

Perspectives on Step 6

By Dominica A.

“Step 6 is an important step in recovery for several reasons.

It is an open invitation to partner with our Higher Power and make a firm decision to let go of the character defects or flaws that have been in control for years. Step 6 is the “getting ready for removal” step—the step that can bring noticeable change when it comes to our thought patterns and behaviors.”

Trying to Remove My Defects on My Own

“I tried removing my shortcomings, flaws, and defects for years. I would vow to myself to be less angry, shameful, resentful, jealous, irrational, and so on. I would determine to stop behaviors that got me feeling pretty awful.

Problem is, I never dug underneath the surface to see what was fueling these shortcomings. As I completed the fourth and fifth steps, plenty of things got revealed to me, and then I was ready to relinquish control and allow my Higher Power to cut these attitudes and behaviors at the root.

I learned that many of my attitudes and behaviors stemmed from programming I picked up in childhood. My unconscious program was influencing my conscious choices, sort of like a CD in a player.

I wanted to take that CD out and smash it. But for years I didn’t even realize it was there. With the help of my Higher Power, I was able to take that CD out and put in a brand new CD that brings life, peace, and joy to my life.

In other words, I surrendered. I hoisted the white flag.”

One Day at a Time

“Am I perfect now? Not a chance.

Sometimes I revert back to my old ways or a shortcoming will flare. But when I consciously take time to review the 12 steps, I continue to grow and become stronger. As I work through the steps, I acquire amazing things such as faith, courage, openness, hope, and a willingness to continue molding myself into the person I am meant to be.

I remember that it’s progress I’m after—not perfection!

My advice as you approach Step 6 is to think about how far you’ve come.

• You’re no longer drinking or drugging.
• You’ve courageously worked through five steps.
• You’ve opened yourself up to a Higher Power, inviting positive change into your life.

Allow Step 6 to nudge you into letting go of your shortcomings and character defects.

You have guilt? Let it go. Free yourself.

Are you angry? Give it to your Higher Power.

Trust that your Higher Power can take and remove for good the things you don’t want or need.

Why? Because freedom, peace, and joy are available. You don’t have to be imprisoned in your past, old childhood programming, negative emotions, and so on.

The 12 steps lead men and women to a greater amount of peace, freedom, and joy. Do your best to consistently and honestly work them.”

Author bio

Dominica A. has a love for the 12 steps, as working through them several times has helped her steer clear of addictions and grow personally and spiritually.

She is committed to living out the 12-step philosophy and sharing the message of hope to those still suffering in addiction—and to those in recovery as well.

Dominica has attended both Alcoholics Anonymous and Codependents Anonymous meetings over the years and appreciates the support she’s received. She’s got a deep-rooted passion for helping others heal emotional pain and trauma, as her own journey through love addiction has served as a catalyst for her own healing and transformation.