Take One Step: AA Step 6 Explained
The 12-Step Program is a popular recovery program that helps many people sustain lasting sobriety. If you’re working the 12-Steps, you’re likely already part of a community group called a fellowship. These groups provide much-needed support, accountability, and guidance as you work through each step. In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look at Step 6, with explanations, tips on how to work Step 6, and links to additional resources and Step 6 worksheets that may help you along the way.
What are the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Step 5: Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 11: 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.
Step 12: 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.
Why Is Step 6 Of the 12-Step Program Important?
n a nutshell, step six asks you to admit that you are powerless over all your negative behaviors, not just your drinking or drug abuse, and consider turning those over to your higher power. In all the previous steps, you worked hard to admit you needed help and start developing a relationship with your higher power. Then, you took a good hard look at yourself to identify your shortcomings and prepared to ask your higher power to remove them.
Many people ask, “Why is it so difficult to stop drinking?” This question highlights the complex nature of addiction.
In short, if you just stop drinking, you’ll never address the underlying personal issues and character deficits that contribute to your harmful behaviors. You may remain sober for a period. However, when you face tough situations or strong feelings, you may not have the right tools to cope. This could lead to a relapse.
Bitterness or resentment can arise as you navigate sobriety. These feelings can make a sober lifestyle very hard and unsatisfying.
Although Step six doesn’t ask you to hand over your shortcomings to your higher power just yet, it does ask you to be willing and ready to do that. That’s one of the reasons it’s often a difficult step for people in recovery.
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How Should I Work Step 6 of the 12-Step Program?
If you’re beginning Step 6 of a 12-Step Program—whether you’re working through AA Step 6, Step 6 Narcotics Anonymous, or Al-Anon Step 6—it’s helpful to talk with a sponsor or counselor. They can offer support and insight as you begin to look at the character traits you want to change. If you’re unsure where to start, these tips can help guide your journey.
Start by focusing on your attitude. Step 6 is about being willing to let go of character defects. It’s not about fixing everything yourself. Instead, trust that your higher power can help you make changes.
Try to be humble. You don’t need to be perfect, just open to growth.
Keep in mind that this is an ongoing process. You may work Step 6 many times.
It’s not realistic to tackle every flaw at once. Try focusing on one or two areas of growth at a time. This approach supports long-term healing from substance use disorders and reminds you that progress matters more than perfection.
Be honest and specific about your flaws. General feelings like anger or fear are common, but it’s important to understand what causes them and how they’ve affected your behavior. This clarity will help you face those issues and grow from them.
Practice self-acceptance. This means looking at your past behaviors without shame. It also means accepting how your character traits may have played a role in your substance abuse.
When you hand those traits over to your higher power, you begin to release them. You don’t have to do this alone—support groups and tools like an AA Step 6 worksheet or a Step 6 AA worksheet can help you stay on track as you work through this important step.
Printable AA Step Six Worksheets
Many people also use printable worksheets to help them through each step of the 12-Step Program. When you’re ready to start working Step 6, here are some online resources that may help. You can also get Step 6 worksheets from your addiction treatment provider, counselor, or sponsor.
- Steps By the Big Book printable Step 6 worksheets
- Step 6 worksheets and questions for all steps from 12step.org
Who Can Help Me Work the 6th Step of the 12-Step Program?
Trusted individuals like your addiction treatment provider, counselor, or sponsor are all available to help you work Step 6 of the 12-Step Program. If you haven’t gotten sober yet, but you’re ready to make a change, Briarwood Detox Center can help.
We offer all kinds of detox programs for alcohol and addictive drugs to help you break your physical dependence and start over with a fresh new beginning. The caring members of our staff will intentionally design a detox program to meet your individual needs before helping you through the challenging physical and psychological aspects of withdrawal.
We also provide H&I meetings, which will introduce you to the 12-Step Program and provide opportunities to connect with sober peers and sponsors. After detox, we’ll be here to guide you into the next stage of treatment.
We work with several different insurance providers to make sure detox is affordable and convenient. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. Please contact the professionals at Briarwood Detox Center today for more details.
