Socrates said: “an unexamined life is not worth living”. Steps 4 to 7 of A.A. and N.A. invite us to examine ourselves in order to prevent the spiritual void of the Dry Drunk Syndrome (see Blog 43).
Particularly the Sixth and Seventh Steps can be approached and structured through the consideration of the Seven Deadly Sins (or to use friendlier terminology, defects of character or shortcomings): Pride, Envy, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Sloth and Lust. Many of these shortcomings mimic addiction in that they delude us with mirages that can never satisfy and are unable to provide long-lasting contentment. They are all related in some way to self-centeredness and excessive materialism.
It is important to note that these shortcomings begin to diminish simply through the process of getting clean and sober (First Step). In other words, addiction amplifies or magnifies the “Sins”. Sobriety mitigates them. And this happens even before we get to Steps 4 to 7!
The only Step that must be done perfectly is Step 1. After we achieve sobriety, we can strive to further diminish our shortcomings, but we need not achieve perfection with respect to our character defects.
Furthermore, most of the so-called Deadly Sins are sins of EXCESS. It is no coincidence that one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues is Temperance (or moderation). Again, while we must abstain COMPLETELY AND PERFECTLY from alcohol and drugs, many of the Seven Deadly Sins can be viewed through the lenses of balance, moderation and temperance. For example, everyone needs food and money to survive, but taken to extremes, these result in Gluttony and Greed. We can probably never practice balance and moderation perfectly, but the 12 Steps do not require us to do so – they only suggest that we strive to improve ourselves in this area. Any of the Seven Deadly Sins (deadly when practised in excess) can become dangerous to our Recovery and this excess can be an indication of imminent relapse.
The potential to engage excessively in any of our character defects is always present. That is why Recovery is never completed. That is why we are never cured, only “recovering”.
Pride is especially problematic for health care workers and any calling-into-question of their professional competence or dedication can lead to all kinds of toxic negative feelings such as anger, resentment, depression, guilt and shame. These feelings are common enough risks for relapse.
Steps 4 to 7 are essential preventatives against relapse. They need not be practised perfectly, but it is worthwhile revisiting them regularly with a sponsor. They can also be practised in an abbreviated form on a daily basis in Step 10. These are the Steps that allow us to MAINTAIN sobriety. It is what makes the old-timers keep coming to meetings. Without these specific steps, all we can hope for is intermittent sobriety.
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