Values and Defects Statement

Written By Shamako Donae

Biblical Value:

The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:37-40

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

  • "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

  • Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

  • Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

  • Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

  • Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

  • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

  • Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

The 10 Commandments List, Short Form*

Recovery Values 

  1. .We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable. The principle behind this step is Honesty. No one likes to admit that they have a problem with mind-altering substances or compulsive behaviours; taking this step is essential to accepting help.

  1. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The principle behind this step is Hope. Having admitted honestly that there is a problem, which for many of us seemed impossible to solve by any means we had heard of or tried, we must hope that somewhere, a solution does exist.

  1. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. The principle behind this step is Faith. Though we had no proof except for witnessing others who had recovered successfully, we had to ‘act as if’ there were some kind of Higher Power or force of good, orderly direction that could help us.

  1. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. The principle behind this step is Courage. Many were afraid to rehash the past with a written inventory, but when we saw others proceed in the face of fear, we received the courage to complete the fourth step.

  1. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. The principle behind this step is Integrity. We could not continue to hide from the world, pretending we had done no wrong; we had to admit that we, like those we resented, were human and fallible. Paradoxically, rather than being a sign of weakness, admitting our faults proved to be a sign of strength.

  1. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. The principle behind this step is Willingness. Though we might not have known who we were without the defects of character that had helped us cope through difficult circumstances, we were willing to move past them and seek our true potential.

  1. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. The principle behind this step is Humility. We had to realize we didn’t necessarily have the power to just reinvent ourselves, by ourselves; especially in the case of persistent behaviours we wanted to be free of, like selfishness and dishonesty, we had to have outside help.

  1. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. The principle behind this step is Love. Even though people had hurt us, we were willing to admit our wrongdoing and let theirs go.

  1. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. The principle behind this step is Discipline. Nothing builds character like actually owning up to your mistakes.

  1. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. The principle behind this step is Perseverance. Life isn’t always easy, and it happens every day, but we persist in walking the path we believe to be right.

  1. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. The principle behind this step is Awareness. We are no longer alone in the universe, and we continue to awaken to the knowledge that everyone and everything is connected.

  2. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The principle behind this step is Service. Many of us were takers before coming into recovery; we now unselfishly give back to others what was so freely given to us.



Spiritual Principles in the Twelve Traditions

A spiritual principle is associated with each of the Twelve Traditions.

The following are the traditions that serve as a guideline or manual that defines the internal operations of the 12-step programs.

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

  2. For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

  3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

  4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

  5. Each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

  6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

  7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

  8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

  9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

  10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

  11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (SHORT FORM)

 1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

 3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

 5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 

7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 

8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 

10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. 

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Tradition One:  Unity

Tradition Two: Trust

Tradition Three: Identity

Tradition Four: Autonomy

Tradition Five: Purpose

Tradition Six:  Solidarity

Tradition Seven: Responsibility

Tradition Eight: Fellowship

Tradition Nine: Structure

Tradition Ten:  Neutrality

Tradition Eleven: Anonymity

Tradition Twelve:  Spirituality



Personal Values: 

  • Love 

  • Knowledge 

  • Creativity 

  • Justice 

  • Strength 












Character Defect 

Opposite of Defect- Character Asset 

Selfish

Unselfish/Giving/Sharing

Dishonest

Honest in word and deed 

Resentful

Forgiving

Afraid/Fearful

Faith and Courage / trusting 

Arrogant Cocky

Humble / Mild manor

Egotistical/Egoism

Modest

Entitled / Envious

Grateful

Lazy/Sloth

Hard Working/Industrious  

Impatient

Patient

Vengeful

Loving

Hurtful

Kind

Sarcastic/Facetious

Complimentary/Honest humor

Intolerant

Tolerant

Hateful

Forgiving

Inconsiderate

Considerate

Ego/ False Pride

Modest / Real self 

Greedy

Content/Giving

Lustful

Content

Angry

Happy

Jealous

Secure/Trusting

Procrastination

Timely

Self-Seeking

Charity/Helpful for others

Self – Righteous

Gracious

Self – Pity

Lenient/Positive

Self  - Important

Considerate of others

Self – Condemnation / criticism

Self – Embracing/ approval

Self – Harming  Smoking, Over-eating

Self  Esteem – Self Love

Insecure

Secure/Fulfilled

Manipulative

Compliant/Accepting

Conceited/Vain

Unassuming

Judgmental

Fair Minded/Understanding/Accepting of others

Denial/Justification

Agreeable/Acceptance

Opinionated/ Obstinate

Fair Minded

Violent

Gentle / Loving

Prejudice

Open Minded

Controlling/Perfectionistic

Patient / Humble / Accepting/Easy Going

Expectant

Unwatchful/Accepting

People Pleasing/Fake

Real/True

Unloving/ Unkind

Loving/Kind

Irresponsible

Responsible

Martyr/Victim

Courageous/Responsible

Enabling/Codependent

Tough Love/Independent 







Shamako Noble Character Defect List


  • I am hurt 

  • I am angry 

  • I am vindictive 

  • I am slothful 

  • I have low self esteem

  • I hold back inappropriately/agress inappropriately. 

  • I am prideful 

  • I am insecure 

  • I am afraid 

  • I am self-centered 

  • I am selfish 

  • I am self-destructive 

  • I am disrespectful 

  • I am sad 

  • I am stubborn/stiff necked

  • I am immature

  • I am jealous/envious 

  • I am irresponsible

  • I am hypocritical 

  • I am prone to releasing my moral code when it matters most 

  • I guilt and shame ridden 

  • I am obsessive 

  • I am dishonest 

  • I am impatient 

  • I am a control freak 

  • I am given to fits of rage/carry rage inside me 

  • I am greedy

  • I am feeling unloved

  • I am rejecting love when offered. 

  • I am a self saboteur 

  • I am intolerant 

  • I am inconsiderate 

  • I am self-righteous 

  • I am reckless 

  • I am undisciplined

  • I am resentful (racism)

  • I am lustful 

  • I am inconsiderate

  • I am a people pleaser 

Shamako Donae
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