How do we handle triggers or defects?
My biggest defect is probably impatiences and rigidity.
I pray to have god remove these and others but so far, apparently god wants me to hold on to them a bit. Maybe I need to work with them more? ;-)
Triggers I handle through prayer, reflection and meditation. And avoidance.

I turn the page and go on to step 7. It strikes me again is that both of these steps are in a chapter in the BB called "Into Action," and if the authors had really intended to call it "Into Analysis" or "Into Moral Theology," they would have.

LOL love that Nemo.

I also note that the word "repentance" is not to be found anywhere in either the BB or the 12 & 12. But I know people who've spent years assuming that that's merely because of a typo or an oversight.

my first sponsor used to say he was addicted to anything he could put in him, around him or near him that made him feel better about himself.

Agree nemo step six is not more than wanting them removed by having them become objectionable to me...move to seven ask the HP to do his deal and remove them...

Having intensely done St 5 again over the winter, I came to 6 and found there were some glaring defects. And I figure the ones I needed to work on were the ones right in my face.
Wanting to feel good through substance use has something behind it. If you can identify what's behind your not feeling 'good enough', then you can see your defect. The action involved then is just noting or writing down what that defect is. Simplifying it into wanting stuff or people isn't specific enough to sincerely complete the step and to move on to Step 7. IMO!

Wow, this post really has me pondering about 'emotional attachment'. I know my ex had it with me and when we had our first row, he went back to his 'fixes' and I can now see that was a huge turning point in our relationship.

For me, it is about working the 12 step program. About keeping putting action in. About doing things that I should be doing and not things I know I shouldn't (playing out). My 6th sense tends to let me know about 'emotional attachment' and whether I am being healthy around it.

Is it also about lack of self in some way? Have you written on the individual events to get understanding of it?

Yep, prayer and talking to my HP about it. About asking for understanding of my character defects.

Very very thought provoking for me. Thanks....I think! haha

m8bear you hit the nail on the head. Your first line was exactly what prompted me to post this.

Not ready to be more specific here except to say sometimes in doing step 12 it's hard to put the brakes on and know when your help becomes more enabling to that person then help. Another one of my defects is I hate confrontations and am more likely to agree with someone even if I know they are wrong.

God Bless!

Nemo! Isn't repentance the same as step 8?

bob,

Step 8 is also a preparation step for the actions to be taken in step 9. And it seems to me that this is exactly the point where religion and AA spirituality are irreconcilably different. In step 9 we make our amends directly to the people we have harmed, and that's the end of the guilt trip once and for all. In religion your accusers can pursue you into the grave and beyond because, in that scheme of things, you can never be completely sure if you've been forgiven or not. So the free-floating guilt just sort of hangs there like a cloud.

Heck, it even comes with a different set of promises. We are NOT going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We WILL regret the past and wish to shut the door on it. We will NOT comprehend the word serenity as we try one atonement gimmick after another to get rid of the guilt, and we will never know peace.

Heck Nemo, that makes sense to me. I even feel guilty when things are going good! I pray for serenity and I get it but then it's scary feeling so much peace and tranquility!

Must be my religious upbringing. Going to church every Sunday and Holy days and Catholic school for 8 years. My parents thought they were raising me the right way but yet they both drank every day and never gave it a second thought!

Ahh well. Thanks Nemo and everyone else for your insight. I feel at home here and at meetings!

God Bless!

Bob, all things aside.... first thing I ever heard in AA that shocked me... its a long story but...."If i keep doing what I'm doing I'm gonna keep getting What I'm getting". That began my fall , identification for me has required action or at least paying attention. "Pain may be inevitable but suffering is optional" . That too helped me to understand. It ain't worth wasting my live over ...take a peek at what the symptoms mean.. Goggle is very helpful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyZD7eoHZT8

I personally don't believe in 'triggers' as far as I am concerned I will never drink again if I live by spiritual principles and work with other alcoholics. Triggers are lists of things that will give us an excuse to go drink.

The only reason an alcoholic picks up another drink is being in unfit spiritual condition - that's the only trigger there is!

If you are asking about step 6 does that mean that you have yet to work through the rest of the steps? If that is the case, it is not surprising that your thinking has been a weird lately.

Please, please get those steps done and set yourself free!