The AA Program is a process, not an event. And processes involve sequences of steps.  And steps can be both systematized and habituated; both of these, systematization and habituation,  are useful qualities in my Program.  Habituation of many of the AA principles has been an essential part of my Program and concomitant spiritual development.  Habits of thought and action have led to change.  And systematization of the Steps has been an important addition to the other practices of the Program such as meetings and 12 Step work.  

The AA Program is a process, not an event. Processes involve sequences of steps. Steps can be both systematized and habituated; both of these, systematization and habituation, are useful qualities in my Program. Habituation of many of the AA principles has been an essential part of my Program and concomitant spiritual development. Habits of thought and action have led to change. And systematization of the Steps has been an important addition to the other practices of the Program such as meetings and 12 Step work.

My annual inventories are an excellent example of habituation and systemization. First, habituation to a yearly cycle. Second, systematic processes, using the outlines in the Big Book, with experience-based additions.

I have systematized my annual inventory process with a worksheet that follows the standard four column inventory method outlined in the Big Book. This worksheet is available on my web site, www.the4thdimension.ca, under Worksheets. This structured approach has helped me in my annual inventories. The systematized process pointed me to the Fifth Step and identification of the exact nature of the wrongs.

I then developed another process worksheet that I have called the Defects Tool. It is also found under Worksheets on the4thdimension.ca website. I have used this on myself and have test driven it on sponsees. It has proven to be useful.

In this essay, I want to discuss the Defects Tool: The purpose of the tool is to help with the removal of defects of character, deal with shortcomings, and generally work on my character with an orientation to action. As mentioned, the spreadsheet tool is found under Worksheets on this website, and this essay is a companion to that worksheet and can be read with the worksheet or separately.

First, why did I feel compelled to develop a defects removal tool that is oriented towards action?

In the Rooms, we preach action. We have several sayings. “You can’t think your way into a new way of acting, but you can act your way into a new way of thinking.” “Fake it until you make it.” “The title of the chapter is Into Action not Into Thought.” Dr. Bob used to say, “Show me your actions and I’ll show you your faith.” Actions are vital to we AAs.

In the Big Book, Steps Six and Seven both focus on humility, which is defined by Bill as obedient actions. In Step three, when we turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him, we pause, turn our mind to God, then do the next right thing; Pause, Pray, and then Listen. This PPL formula stands us in good stead as we obediently follow God’s suggestions in our lives. But the last element is action. Action informed by our orientation to God.

But often when we hit Steps six and seven, we stop thinking of actions and count on God to somehow remove these defects of character. In my experience, I need God to help me deal with these shortcomings and defects of character; I have never been able to pull myself up by my own bootstraps. 

I repeated the seventh Step prayer again and again. I was left with a vague sense that God is going to do for me that which I could not do for myself. I was glad for this but unsure what was going to happen next. I had overlooked the call to action at the end of the prayer, “…as I go out from here, to do your bidding.” The conclusion to the prayer is active; it is a demand that I go out and live, according to God’s bidding, God’s direction.

This orientation to action is hidden in Step seven. In Step seven, “… humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings,” Bill uses the word humility in a fascinating manner. When he suggested that we humbly asked for the shortcomings to be removed, he had in mind a definition of humbly that was counterintuitive. The common definition of humility, and humbly, involves a passive, quiet acquiescence. But as Bill writes about humility, it is not passive acquiescence. It is active obedience. Obedience to God’s will in our actions.

This counterintuitive call to humble action works for me. My defects are not removed as much as they are ablated as I move through the seas of life. Pulled away from me as marine growth is pulled from the hull of a ship that has been treated with anti-fouling paint, the water pulling the barnacles and weeds away as the hull moves through the water. The anti-fouling paint does not prevent marine growth; instead, it creates a surface that can tear away from the hull with the growth attached — sitting still, the marine growth increases. Moving through the water, marine growth is removed. This is true of the defects of character in my life. Sitting still spiritually, the defects grow and accrue; moving through life under God’s direction, they are removed.

The Defects Worksheet directs me to an action orientation in connection with the defects of character that I have to deal with. Let me comment on some of the processes surrounding the Defects Worksheet. 

The process starts with my annual inventory, modelled after business inventories, as Bill Wilson suggests. The annual inventories that I’ve conducted over the years continue to reveal patterns that I have not previously seen. I could attribute this failure to recognize these defects to denial or ignorance, but sometimes I find that I have accepted character defects to such a level that somehow the patterns evolve without me noticing them. This trifecta of denial, ignorance, and acceptance is a deadly one. But it is unveiled with a good personal inventory.

I then move from my inventory with the revealed patterns to a fifth step, which I have discussed in the earlier essays as a confessional conversation. This step is a confession, to release the pressure of secret-keeping that we all know too well. But then there’s a conversation. In the conversation with the fifth stepper, the themes and underlying causes and conditions of the anecdotes or stories concerning my character defects, which emerged in the inventory, are explored and articulated. 

Themes, causes and conditions. By themes, I mean the underlying principles that give rise to these manifestations or defects of character and shortcomings. By causes, I mean the triggers to the defects of character that appear to be common to the manifestations and stories of the shortcomings. And by conditions, I refer to the circumstances in which the defects occasionally arise or seem to emerge in a pattern. 

Emerging from this fifth step process, I release the pressure of the secrets, carry on a conversation, and walk away with an understanding of the principles, triggers, and circumstances in which the defects of character are manifested. 

I’m then in a position to ask myself, “Self – what actions can you take to head these defects off before they develop or lean against them once they start? And then how can I measure the actions to hold myself accountable?”

As you will see on the worksheet, there are several columns. After I’ve identified the causes, conditions, and themes of the defects of character, I identify actions that can be taken to address these identified defects constructively. Actions that push against the manifestations of the defects, fight the themes and principles underlying the defects, and allow me to recognize the conditions or circumstances in which the defects take root and come to fruition. 

I write down these positive, constructive actions. I used to just imagine them, but I discovered just how ineffective that was. I have to write them down. I have to see it in black and white. 

Having formulated the actions, I then determine how to measure them. For example, a defect of intolerance: A wonderful little shortcoming caused by a sense of superiority and self-centeredness. The actions that I can take to dissolve and resolve this defect involve regular prayer and meditation habits. These are positive actions that I can identify and measure. At the end of 90 days, I can think back over the last three months and ask myself what percentage of the days I had a morning meditation. What percentage of the days did I get on my knees and pray? For what percentage of the 90 days was I consciously aware of God? 

I can then set my calendar for every 90 days to review my defects worksheet and measure how I’m doing. It’s just an estimate, and there may be all kinds of methodology errors. But for me, it works. It reaffirms my desire to deal with my defects of character. It constructively addresses the issue of triggers, causes, and conditions. It’s a process that works very well for me. I commend it to you. 

My annual inventories are an excellent example of habituation and systemization — first, habituation to a yearly cycle. Second, systematic processes, using the outlines in the Big Book, with experience-based additions.

I have systematized my annual inventory process with a worksheet that follows the standard 4 column inventory method outlined in the Big Book.  This worksheet is available on my web site, www.the4thdimension.ca, under Worksheets. This structured approach has helped me in my annual inventories.  The systematized process pointed me to the 5th Step and identification of the exact nature of the wrongs.  

I then developed another process worksheet that I have called the Defects Tool.  It is also found under Worksheets on the4thdimension.ca web site.  I have used this on myself and have test driven it on sponsees.  It has proven to be useful.

In this essay, I want to discuss this Defects Tool:  The purpose of the tool is to help with the removal of defects of character, deal with shortcomings, and generally work on my character with an orientation to action. As mentioned, the spreadsheet tool is found under ‘Worksheets’ on this web site, and this essay is a companion to that Worksheet and can be read with the Worksheet or separately.

First, why did I feel compelled to develop a defects removal tool that is oriented towards action?

In the Rooms, we preach action. We have several sayings. “You can’t think your way into a new way of acting, but you can act your way into a new way of thinking.” “Fake it until you make it.” “The title of the chapter is Into Action not Into Thought.” Dr. Bob used to say, “Show me your actions and I’ll show you your faith.”  Actions are vital to we AAs.

In the Big Book, Steps Six and Seven both focus on humility, which is defined by Bill as obedient actions. In Step three, when we turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him, we pause, turn our mind to God then do the next right thing; Pause, Pray, and then Listen. This PPL formula stands us in good stead as we obediently follow God’s suggestions in our lives.  But the last element is action.  Action informed by our orientation to God.

But often when we hit Steps six and seven, we stop thinking of actions and count on God to somehow remove these defects of character. In my experience, I need God to help me deal with these shortcomings and defects of character; I have never been able to pull myself up by my own bootstraps. 

I repeated the 7th Step prayer, again and again. I was left with this vague sense that God is going to do for me that which I could not do for myself.  I was glad for this but unsure what was going to happen next.   I had overlooked the call to action at the end of the prayer, “…as I go out from here, to do your bidding.”  The conclusion to the prayer is active; it is a demand that I go out and live, according to God’s bidding, God’s direction.

I repeated the 7th Step prayer, again and again. I was left with this vague sense that God is going to do for me that which I could not do for myself.  I was glad for this but unsure what was going to happen next.   I had overlooked the call to action at the end of the prayer, “…as I go out from here, to do your bidding.”  The conclusion to the prayer is active; it is a demand that I go out and live, according to God’s bidding, God’s direction.

This orientation to action is hidden in Step 7. In Step 7, “… humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings,” Bill uses the word humility in a fascinating manner. When he suggested that we humbly asked for the shortcomings to be removed, he had in mind a definition of humbly that was counter-intuitive.  The common definition of humility, and humbly, involves a passive, quiet acquiescence. But as Bill writes about humility, it is not passive acquiescence.  It is active obedience.  Obedience to God’s will in our actions.

This counter-intuitive call to humble action works for me.  My defects are not removed as much as they are ablated as I move through the seas of life. Pulled away from me as marine growth is pulled from the hull of a ship that has been treated with anti-fouling paint, the water pulling the barnacles and weeds away as the hull moves through the water.  The anti-fouling paint does not prevent marine growth; instead, it creates a surface that can tear away from the hull with the growth attached — sitting still, the marine growth increases.  Moving through the water, marine growth is removed.  So too with defects of character in my life.  Sitting still, spiritually, the defects grow and accrue; moving through life under God’s direction they are removed.

So, over the years, I developed a tool – a Defects Removal Tool. This tool is my Defects Worksheet. It directs me to an action orientation in connection with the defects of character that I have to deal with.  Take a look at it.  You might find it useful.  But first, let me comment on some of the processes surrounding the Defects Worksheet. 

The process starts with my annual inventory, modelled after business inventories, as Bill Wilson suggests. The annual inventories that I’ve conducted over the years continue to reveal patterns that I have not previously seen. I could attribute this failure to recognize these defects to denial or ignorance, but sometimes I find that I have accepted character defects to such a level that somehow the patterns evolve without me noticing them. This trifecta of denial, ignorance, and acceptance is a deadly one. But it is unveiled with a good personal inventory.

I then move from my inventory with the revealed patterns to a 5th step, which I have discussed in the earlier essays as a confessional conversation. This step is a confession, to release the pressure of secret-keeping that we all know too well. But then there’s a conversation. In the conversation with the 5th stepper, the themes and underlying causes and conditions of the anecdotes or stories concerning my character defects, which emerged in the inventory, are explored and articulated. 

Themes, causes and conditions.  By themes, I mean the underlying principles that give rise to these manifestations or defects of character and shortcomings. By causes, I mean the triggers to the defects of character that appear to be common to the manifestations and stories of the shortcomings. And by conditions, I refer to the circumstances in which the defects occasionally arise or seem to emerge in the pattern. 

Emerging from this 5th step process, I release the pressure of the secrets, carry on a conversation, and walk away with an understanding of the principles, triggers, and circumstances in which the defects of character are manifested. 

I’m then in a position to ask myself, “Self – what actions can you take to head these defects off before they develop or lean against them once they start? And then how can I measure the actions, can I measure the actions to hold myself accountable?”

As you will see on the worksheet, there are several columns. After I’ve identified the causes, conditions, and themes of the defects of character, I identify actions that can be taken to address these identified defects constructively. Actions that push against the manifestations of the defects, fight the themes and principles underlying the defects and allow me to recognize the conditions or circumstances in which the defects take root and come to fruition. 

I write down these positive, constructive actions. I used to just imagine them, but I discovered just how ineffective that was. I have to write them down. I have to see it in black and white. 

Having formulated the actions, I then determine how to measure them. For example, a defect of intolerance: A wonderful little shortcoming caused by a sense of superiority and self-centeredness. The actions that I can take to dissolve and resolve this defect involve regular prayer and meditation habits. These are positive actions that I can identify, and I can measure them. At the end of 90 days, I can think back over the last three months and ask myself what percentage of the days I had a morning meditation. What percentage of the days did I get on my knees and pray? What percentage of the 90 days was I consciously aware of God? 

I can then set my calendar for every 90 days to review my defects worksheet and measure how I’m doing. It’s just an estimate, and there may be all kinds of methodology errors. But for me, it works. It reaffirms my desire to deal with my defects of character. It constructively addresses the issue of triggers, causes, and conditions. It’s a process that works very well for me. I commend it to you. 

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