Step 6 of AA: Understanding Character Defects and Finding Freedom

Step 6 of Alcoholics Anonymous marks the halfway point in your recovery journey. After completing your fearless moral inventory in Step 4 and admitting the exact nature of your wrongs in Step 5, the sixth step asks you to become “entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

This guide explains what Step 6 of AA means, provides the Step 6 prayer and character defects list, and helps you work through this transformative stage of your 12-step recovery program.

What Is Step 6 of Alcoholics Anonymous?

Step 6 states: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

This alcoholics anonymous step represents the halfway point in the 12-step program. You’ve done the hard look at yourself through your personal inventory, admitted your wrongs to your higher power and another human being, and now you prepare for real change.

The critical thing to understand is that Step 6 doesn’t demand instant perfection. Instead, it asks for a genuine willingness to surrender your character faults to the care of God as you understand Him. This step develops the best possible attitude toward letting go of the negative behaviors and thought patterns that fueled your addictive behavior.

According to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, this is a lifetime job. The accumulated habits of years don’t disappear overnight, but patient improvement becomes possible when you approach this step with an open mind and honest effort.

Understanding Character Defects in Recovery

Character defects aren’t indicators that you’re a bad person. These defects of character—patterns of thought, negative feelings, and behavioral patterns—developed over a long time, often as survival mechanisms. In substance use disorders and alcohol abuse, these character traits became amplified.

The previous steps prepared you for this moment. Your moral inventory in Step 4 and admission in Step 5 identified these personal issues. Now, in the sixth step, you acknowledge that these character flaws must be addressed for long-term recovery.

Your character defects likely include powerful emotions like resentment, fear, and pride. They manifest in your old habits, old routines, and old ways of thinking. The disease of addiction thrives on these defects. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to remove them through willpower alone. The force of healing comes from your higher power. Your job is simply to become entirely ready—to develop a sense of hope and a positive attitude about the process of recovery.

Common Character Defects List

The steps of Alcoholics Anonymous guide you to identify specific character faults. Here are common character defects identified in the 12-step program:

Primary Character Defects

Fear – The foundation of many other defects. Fear of people, economic insecurity, and fear of not being enough drive much addictive behavior.

Pride – An inflated ego that prevents honest self-examination and keeps us from accepting help.

Anger – Self-righteous anger and resentment toward such people we believe have wronged us.

Dishonesty – Lying to ourselves and others became second nature during active addiction.

Selfishness – Self-centered thinking that places our wants above the needs of others.

Resentment – Holding onto grievances and creating a list of all persons who have hurt us.

Jealousy – Envying what others have instead of practicing acceptance of our own lives.

Greed – The insatiable desire for more, whether substances, money, or attention.

Lust – Using people for physical gratification without genuine connection.

Self-pity – Wallowing in victim mentality instead of taking responsibility.

Impatience – Demanding immediate results in what is truly a lifelong process.

Intolerance – Judging others harshly while making excuses for our own defects.

How Character Defects Manifest in Addiction

During active alcohol abuse or substance use, these character defects intensified. They influenced your behavioral patterns, destroyed relationships, and prevented spiritual growth. The result of these steps is recognizing how these defects of character kept you trapped in the disease of addiction.

The Step 6 Prayer

Prayer is a key word in the steps of AA. The Step 6 prayer helps you develop the true willingness needed for this important step. Here is the traditional prayer:

Step 6 Prayer:

“Dear God,
I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery.
Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental health.

Alternative Step 6 Prayer

For those who prefer a different language:

“Higher Power,
I am entirely ready to release these old habits and negative behaviors.
I trust in your care and ask for the willingness to let go.
Help me become a better person through this process of recovery.”

Many people in the 12-step program use these prayers at their AA meeting, during conscious contact with their higher power, or as part of their daily routine. The important thing is sincerity, not perfect wording.

How to Work Step 6: A Practical Guide

Working the sixth step is different from the previous steps. You’re not creating lists or making direct amends—you’re cultivating inner readiness.

Review Your Personal Inventory: Look back at your Step 4 work. Which character defects appeared repeatedly? This review provides the foundation for Step 6.

Examine Each Defect Honestly: For each character fault, ask: How has this defect served me? What am I afraid will happen if I let it go? Am I entirely ready to have this removed?

Practice Willingness, Not Perfection: You don’t need to feel 100% ready for every defect. The first time through these steps, few people achieve complete willingness. Start with the defects you’re ready to release.

Use Positive Statements: Create affirmations that counteract your character defects. Instead of dishonesty: “I am truthful in all my affairs.” Instead of selfishness: “I consider others’ needs alongside my own.”

Maintain a Positive Attitude: Approach Step 6 with hope, not shame. You’re a human being in recovery, doing honest work toward becoming a better person. Celebrate baby steps and each little victory.

Connect with Sober Peers: Talk to people who have completed step 6. Their personal experience provides hope. Your sponsor and others at your AA meeting are valuable resources.

The sixth step acknowledges that you cannot remove these defects through willpower alone. You need the care of God or your higher power. This step prepares you to ask for divine help in Step 7.

The Difference Between Step 6 and Step 7

Understanding the distinction between these alcoholics anonymous steps is crucial:

Step 6 is about becoming ready. It’s preparation, willingness, and acceptance.

Step 7 is about taking action. It’s when you humbly ask your higher power to remove your shortcomings.

Think of Step 6 as opening your hands to release something you’ve been gripping. Step 7 is the actual letting go. Both are essential in the 12-step program, and you cannot skip the preparation phase.

Why Step 6 Is Important in Long-Term Recovery

The sixth step serves critical functions: It creates the foundation for change—without readiness, no real change occurs. It prevents relapse by helping you recognize the thought patterns that lead back to alcohol abuse or substance use. It promotes spiritual growth through deeper conscious contact with your higher power. It enables healthy relationships by preparing you to address the character faults that harm connections. And it builds the humility needed for continued spiritual awakening.

Overcoming Common Challenges

“I’m Not Ready to Let Go”: Some character defects feel like part of your identity. That’s where “willing to be willing” helps. Ask your higher power for the willingness you lack.

“I Keep Falling Back Into Old Ways”: Recovery isn’t linear. The accumulated habits of years take time to change. Each time you recognize a defect and become willing again, you’re making progress.

“This Feels Like It’s Taking a Long Time”: For some, Step 6 happens quickly. For others, it’s a longer period of time. Both are valid. The important thing is honest effort, not speed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Step 6

Embracing Your Journey in Step 6

Step 6 is the bridge between self-examination and transformation. You’ve looked at yourself honestly through your fearless moral inventory. You’ve admitted the exact nature of your wrongs. Now you’ve become entirely ready for change.

This halfway point represents a significant change from your first step. You’ve developed an open mind, maintained a positive attitude despite facing hard truths, and built a sense of hope about your recovery from the disease of addiction.

The baby steps you take in developing readiness lead to the real change that comes in Step 7, where you’ll humbly ask your higher power to remove these shortcomings. Together, these steps create the foundation for making direct amends, maintaining daily inventory, developing conscious contact with your higher power, and carrying the message to others.

Step 6 requires honest effort, an open mind, and true willingness. Remember that this is a lifelong process. The accumulated habits of years require patient improvement. Celebrate each little victory, practice acceptance when progress feels slow, and maintain a positive attitude about the force of healing working in your life.

You’re not a bad person getting good—you’re a sick person getting well. The result of these steps is not perfection but progress, not instant change but gradual spiritual growth, not elimination of all character defects but willingness to continue addressing them throughout your lifetime job of recovery.

Whether you’re attending your first AA meeting or have been in recovery for a long time, Step 6 offers an opportunity for significant change. Embrace this halfway point with hope, knowing that your sober peers, the twelve traditions, and the proven 12-step recovery program support you on this journey.

Note: All quotes are from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

Recovery Resources: Step 6 Support and Tools

Your journey through Step 6 doesn’t have to be solitary. These resources provide additional support, guidance, and community as you work toward becoming entirely ready to release your character defects.

Sober Speak Podcast Episodes

Listen to real stories and practical guidance about working Step 6 of Alcoholics Anonymous:

Featured Step 6 Episodes

Episode 371: Chris S – Steps 6 and 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous Chris S provides an in-depth exploration of Steps 6 and 7, discussing how to develop willingness and what it means to be entirely ready for God to remove character defects. November 22, 2024

Episode 329: Marty C – Steps 6 and 7 of AA: We Stood at the Turning Point Marty C discusses the turning point that Steps 6 and 7 represent in recovery, exploring character defects and the process of becoming entirely ready for transformation. February 2, 2024

Episode 265: Casey W – Steps 6 and 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous Casey W shares practical guidance on working through Steps 6 and 7, including real examples of character defects and how to approach these crucial steps. November 11, 2022

Episode 237: Charlie P – Steps 6 and 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous Charlie P offers wisdom on the halfway point of the 12 steps, discussing readiness, willingness, and how to let your higher power work in your recovery. April 29, 2022

Episode 196: Reno John A – Steps 6 and 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous Reno John provides a comprehensive look at Steps 6 and 7, sharing his experience with character defects and the spiritual transformation these steps bring. July 23, 2021

Sober Speak Step Resources

Continue your step work with these comprehensive guides:

The 12 Steps Series

• Step 4: Fearless Moral Inventory Guide – Review where you identified your character defects
• Step 5: Admission and Spiritual Growth – Understand how Step 5 prepared you for Step 6
• Step 7: Humbly Asked Him to Remove Our Shortcomings – Your next step after Step 6
• Complete Guide to AA Step Prayers – All 12 step prayers in one place

Downloadable Worksheets

• Step 6 Character Defects Worksheet (PDF) – Print and work through your character defects systematically
• Step 6 Worksheet with Questions – Guided questions to help you develop willingness

Official AA Resources

AA Literature

• Alcoholics Anonymous (The Big Book) – Pages 76-84 discuss Steps 6 and 7
• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Chapter 6 provides in-depth exploration of Step 6
• Living Sober – Practical daily living guidance for ongoing recovery
• Daily Reflections – Daily meditation book with Step 6 reflections

Order AA Literature: AA.org Store

Find AA Meetings

• AA Meeting Finder – Locate in-person meetings near you
• AA Online Intergroup – Find online meetings 24/7
• AA Hotline: 1-800-839-1686 (National helpline)

AA Official Resources

• AA.org – Official Alcoholics Anonymous website
• Step 6 Overview from AA.org – Official step descriptions
• AA Grapevine – Stories from AA members worldwide

Additional Recovery Support

Treatment and Professional Help

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (Free, 24/7, confidential support)
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator – Find treatment facilities
• NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator – Guide to finding quality treatment
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (24/7 crisis support)

Recovery Organizations

• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation – Treatment and resources
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – Research and education
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Federal recovery resources

Alternative 12-Step Programs

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) – For those with drug addiction
• Al-Anon – For families and friends of alcoholics
• Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) – For those raised in alcoholic homes
• SMART Recovery – Science-based alternative to 12-step programs

Online Recovery Communities

Recovery Forums and Support

• r/stopdrinking – Reddit recovery community (700,000+ members)
• In The Rooms – Online recovery community and meetings
• Sober Grid – Recovery social network and app
• I Am Sober App – Sobriety tracker and community

Mental Health Resources

Many people working Step 6 address mental health alongside recovery:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (24/7 support)
• NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-6264 (Mental health support)
• Psychology Today Therapist Finder: Find addiction-specialized therapists
• BetterHelp/Talkspace – Online therapy options with addiction specializations

Apps for Recovery

Sobriety Tracking

• I Am Sober – Track sobriety, connect with community
• Sober Time – Sobriety counter with motivational features
• Nomo – Sobriety clocks and accountability
• Twelve Steps Companion – Step work on the go

Meditation and Mindfulness

• Headspace – Guided meditation (has addiction recovery packs)
• Calm – Meditation and sleep support
• Insight Timer – Free meditation app
• Sober Grid – Recovery-specific meditation and support

State-Specific Rehab Resources

Find quality treatment in your area:

• Best Rehabs in Texas
• Best Rehabs in Florida
• Best Rehabs in Pennsylvania
• Best Rehabs in Alabama
• View All State Rehab Guides

Emergency Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (24/7, free, confidential)
• Emergency: 911 (for immediate danger)

These are free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Continue Your Recovery Journey

Next Steps After Step 6

Once you’ve developed the willingness required in Step 6, you’re ready to move forward:

1. Work Step 7 – Humbly ask your higher power to remove your shortcomings
2. Explore Step 8 – Begin making your list of persons harmed
3. Connect with Sober Speak – Follow us for daily recovery support

Share Your Step 6 Experience

Have you worked Step 6? Your story could help others. Submit your recovery story to be featured on Sober Speak.

Disclaimer

The information provided on Sober Speak is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or substance use disorder.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency or are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Sober Speak is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. We respect AA’s traditions while providing resources to support your recovery journey.

Remember: Recovery is possible. You’re not alone. These resources are here to support you through Step 6 and beyond. One day at a time. 💙