Hug Yourself

In this helpful video Amanda Lee encourages us to take an honest inventory of who we are. She asks us to look at our character defects and personal assets; two areas that denial and distraction can keep us from becoming aware of. This process is referred to in 12-step recovery programs as the 6th step: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. By assessing these areas of your life you no longer risk falling into the trap of D.E.N.I.A.L. = Don’t Even Notice I Am Lying. It is through self-awareness and compassion that you take the first steps towards self-acceptance.


Write down the answers to the following questions:

1. Write a list of all of your character defects – What areas in your behavior do you want to improve? For each write down:
A. Why would you want to keep it?
B. Why do you want to be relieved of it?

2. Write down a list of your assets – What positive character points do you have, what are you good at? For each asset write down:
A. Why do you want to keep it?
B. Why would you want to be relieved of it?

3. How do you envisage becoming ready, and preparing yourself to be relieved of aspects of your personality that no longer serve your greatest good?

4. What would it mean for you to have your Higher Power relieve you of these self defeating behaviors?

5. What does self-acceptance mean to you?

6. What are ways you can practice self-acceptance?


Please feel free to share your experiences or questions in the comments section below.

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