12 Steps in 12 Days: A Look at Step 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
General Service Conference approved literature lists Step 5 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as follows:
“5. We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.”
None of the 12 steps in Alcoholics Anonymous are “easy”, but step 5 is especially difficult because we must admit our faults and defects to another human being. However, discussing our wrongs with another person can be helpful and therapeutic.
Once we have taken inventory of all of our shortcomings due to alcohol abuse (step 4), the next logical step is to share those emotions with our higher power, ourselves and another human being. Once we have successfully completed step 5, we can then begin to build a life based on honesty and truth.
