Thursday, October 29th
Some of the Characteristics spoke to me right away. As my recovery progressed, I began to identify with more of them.
When we attended our first SCA meeting, many of us heard The Characteristics Most of Us Seem to Have in Common read aloud and had moments of insight. We identified with some of the described behavioral patterns and related to their effect on our lives. We also heard hope: if others understood the pain we had felt, there was a sense that we were finally in the right place to get help. It was reassuring to know that we were not alone and that others had similar experiences.
“Here is a group of people that clearly knows exactly what I have been going through.”
Reading the Characteristics may help us to identify other traits and behaviors that we had not previously noticed. This awareness can give us more insight when working the Steps, particularly when taking our inventory and identifying our character defects.
We can apply this clarity to make changes that support our sobriety and our spiritual growth. We discover what works for us, ask for what we need, and accept who we are.
When we begin to see ourselves in the Characteristics, we turn toward a new way of living.