List of the principal virtues that are named in the two basic texts of AA. In alphabetical order these are:
acceptance-compassion-consideration-courage-courtesy-discretion-faith-forgiveness-fortitude-frankness-generosity-gentleness-gratitude-harmony-honesty-hope-humility
integrity-joy-justice-kindness-love-mercy-moderation-modesty-open-mindedness-patience-peace-perseverance-prudence-restraint-serenity-simplicity-sincerity-temperance-tolerance
trust-understanding-willingness-wisdom.
These virtues are variously embedded in different Steps. Those in boldface are the ones that will ring a bell with most of us. We may easily link many of them to specific Steps.
- Humility with Steps 1 and 7
- Open-mindedness and hope with Step 2
- Willingness, acceptance, serenity, courage and wisdom with Step 3.
- Faith we may connect with Steps 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11
- Forgiveness with Steps 8, 9 and 10.
- Honesty, one of the most frequently mentioned virtues in the program, with a number of Steps, including Steps 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, 9 and 10.
- Gratitude, joy, and love are all virtues that we may link with Step 12.
The Steps may not be as easy, but it isn’t hard to see that surrender calls for humility; self-examination, confession and restitution for honesty, and prayer for faith.
Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness (HOW).
If we don’t have these three, even in their most rudimentary form, our chances of getting sober are practically nil. If we don’t grow in these and the rest of the virtues, our chances for emotional sobriety are equally negligible.
To grow in them and be able to work the Steps and practice the principles fully in all we do, we need to attend to the virtues, know what they are, how they are acquired, and how they work in tandem with the disciplines to further our recovery.
- We practice the principles in all our affairs to do good and, by doing good, to become good, so that we can do still more good. This doing and becoming is how we grow in virtue and thus in good character; it is the seed and the fruit of our spiritual growth.
The same process of habit formation that is at work in the acquisition of good character traits is at work in the acquisition of defective ones. Defects of character are deeply ingrained bad habits acquired through repeated action over long periods of time. These traits are the very opposite of the virtues. They fill our character with the attitudes, tendencies, and propensities to ill which cause our discontent and at times our ruin. Whereas virtues are ways of living life well, vices or character defects are ways of living life poorly.
We can see character development then as a process of replacing vices with virtues, character defects with character strengths, deeply ingrained bad habits with equally deeply ingrained good habits. So much of what we do seems to hinge on our attitude and on the choices that we make. But attitude as currently used is really just a more popular word for an older and richer term that forms part of the virtues tradition, and this is disposition. And this, our attitude or disposition, the way that we lean spiritually, morally, and emotionally, is precisely what the program seeks to affect and fundamentally alter.
In AA, this change commences with the virtue of willingness. This is the key that opens the door to all the other virtues for the alcoholic-actually for everyone. Its connection with attitude adjustment or change in disposition is readily apparent. To dispose is defined as “to put into a willing or receptive frame of mind.” That is, as regards virtue, to be willing is to have our will disposed or inclined to the good, to be well rather than ill disposed. The initial adjustment and turning point takes place in Step 1, where we experience an internal shift from willfulness to willingness. We yield and let go of resistance and defiance. We become ready to do the simplest yet for us the hardest thing to do: to ask for help and accept direction.
As we grow in recovery and we practice the spiritual principles of the program—disciplines and virtues—these attitude adjustments multiply and accumulate until our spiritual orientation and prevailing frame of mind has undergone a radical transformation and we have developed a habitual inclination toward the good in all we do. The virtues take hold in our character. We now live in the solution. Doing the right thing for the right reason and with the right emotion becomes almost second nature. We have entered a new spiritual dimension. Yet it all begins with nothing more than a simple willingness to give the program an honest try.
Just for today...
Just for today I will pick one virtue off the list (I pick modesty) define it, meditate on it and practice it.
mod·es·ty
- the quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one's abilities.
"with typical modesty he insisted on sharing the credit with others"
synonyms:self-effacement, humility, unpretentiousness;
- the quality of being relatively moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.
"the modesty of his political aspirations"
synonyms: limited scope, moderation
"the modesty of his aspirations"
- behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency.
"modesty forbade her to undress in front of so many people"
synonyms: unpretentiousness, simplicity, plainness
"the modesty of his home"
1 Peter 5:5
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
Podcast of the Day
Peter M. 12th Session Winter Series 2018 12 Step House
Peter M. 12th Session Winter Series 2018 12 Step House
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10 Christian Virtues We Need to Revive
We are called to be an example in our society, to guide others in the way of the Lord, although the virtue of society has gone out the window. We are meant to live by example in everything we do.
Christ like character includes being honest, loving everyone (even those who are hard to love), being kind and having self-control, to name a few. Here are 10 Christian virtues we need to revive if we are to thrive and lead by example.
1. Love - We all have different opinions on things and different views, but we have to love each other regardless. People desperately need to see the love of Christ shining through us.
1 Corinthians 13:13 says, And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
2. Honesty - We have to return to honesty. Nothing ever good comes of lying and people still do it. We need to take the high road and be honest in everything we say and do.
Proverbs 11:3 says, The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
3. Sexual Morality -The most loving act between a husband and wife has been degraded to just a ‘feeling’. Sexual immorality has destroyed Christians and non-Christians alike and it is heartbreaking. It destroys people mentally, and emotionally. Purity and its benefits need to be revived again in our society.
1 Corinthians 6-18-20 says, Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit,who is in you, who you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.Therefore honor God with your bodies.
4. Trust - There is a great lack of trust in society today in many areas. As Christians, it is important to cultivate a community of trust amongst our friends, believers and nonbelievers alike. We need to know that we can trust one another with our problems, secrets and concerns. Non-believers need to know they can trust us with their problems and issues as well, to know they will not be ridiculed or judged.
Titus 2:7 says, In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness.
5. Kindness - In the era of the world wide web, social media, and the way we live today, kindness is hard to find. It is more common to digest the negative rather than the positive. No matter how hard the situation, we need to act in kindness. We need our brothers and sisters to be able to count on it and non-believers to know where they can find it.
Galatians 6:10 says, Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers...
6. Faith - It is hard to keep the faith in difficult situations. It is hard not to lean on your own thoughts and feelings at times. But we always must remember that the Lord knows what is best and will help us avoid any snares on the path we are on. We must always put our faith in Him when it comes to the path He puts us on.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make straight your paths.
7. Hope- It is hard to find hope in the times we live, there is always something terrible going on somewhere. We need to restore our hope through prayer that even the smallest things will get better and to constantly read and trust in His Word too.
Romans 12:12 says, Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
8. Charity - We live in a very self-centered society. I think it is important that we bring back charity in the sense of having concern for others. Everyone thinks of charity as the donation they give at Christmas time. But charity is so much more than that. It’s cleaning out your closet and donating it to a free clothing giveaway. It’s making a meal for a family during a hard time. It is lending a listening ear to someone’s troubles or encouraging and speaking life over someone in a way they have never heard before. Charity is more than just a monetary donation, it is a way of life.
Hebrews 13:16 says, And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased
9. Responsibility - In this sense, we are all responsible for our actions. When consequences are rendered, we need to take responsibility. We need to set the example. We need to show people that we are not perfect and that we make mistakes too.
Galatians 6:5 says For each one shall carry his own load.
10. Compassion - Believers need to teach our society compassion. There are many people who have fallen on hard times and many more to come. It breaks my heart when people lash out with statements like “Oh, he must be out on the street because he’s on drugs.” or “She must be on the street because she is an alcoholic.” Yes, sometimes this is true, but not always. Sometimes people lose their jobs or their homes. Sometimes people suffer from mental illness and can’t function in life due to either not being on medication or not being on the right balance of medications. Our society is so quick to judge one another. We as Christians need to set the example and have compassion for all people.
Galatians 6:2 says, Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.