A Complete List of Character Assets

Two of the four times I've worked the steps through, my sponsor has encouraged me to focus on my character assets as well as my character defects as part of working the fourth step. I found it to be a really useful addition to my process. Because while I have made mistakes and done bad things, I am not all bad. 

After a particularly rough fourth step my second year in program, I couldn't find anything good in my searching and fearless moral inventory. I thought I was all bad. My sponsor reminded me that an inventory was finding the good and the bad, and that I needed to take stock of the expired cans as well as the cans that were still good. 

She suggested I ask a few close and trusted friends to tell me what they liked about me. It was really hard to do. It felt very vulnerable to ask, but I worked up my courage to do it. Some people send me texts, some people made me lists, one friend wrote me a card with a list of things she loved about me signed, "Love, God." That's what you see above . . . one of two pages of things people like about me! It was a nice counterpoint to the pages and pages and pages I'd written of misdeeds and harms. 

Consider asking a few pals to tell you what they love about you. It's just really nice. 

You can also make your own list. One of my sponsors gave me a short list of character assets, and I've added to it. Use this to identify your assets. I bet at least 10 things on this list are true of you.  If you see any that are missing, email me at happyjoyousaf@gmail.com and I'll add them to the list. 

Accepting

Agreeable

Analytical

Approving

Assertive

Attention-giving

Attentive

Bold

Careful

Cautious

Cheerful

Concerned

Confident

Considerate

Content

Controlled

Cooperative

Decisive

Dependable

Disciplined

Extroverted

Flexible

Forgiving

Free

Friendly

Generous

Gentle

Good Listener

Giving

Guilt-free

Helpful

Honest

Humble

Industrious

Involved

Kind

Lawful

Loving

Moderate

Modest

Nice

Open

Open-minded

Optimistic

Organized

Outgoing

Patient

Peaceful

Permissive

Persistent

Playful

Polite

Rational

Realistic

Relaxed

Reliable

Romantic

Selfless

Self-liking

Self-sufficient

Sensitive

Serene

Sociable

Social

Specific

Spiritual

Steady

Straight-forward

Thoughtful

Tolerant

Trusting

Trusting

Unassuming

Venturous

Warm

Willing

Witty