Hey friend — welcome to a shot glass of recovery. Today we’re diving into Step Five: "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." This isn’t about being a bad person; it’s about naming the character defects and natural instincts that got out of hand so they stop running the show.

Step Five is all about ego-deflation and honesty. We’re asked to do something counterintuitive: say out loud the stuff we’ve hidden. Secrets keep us sick — that’s AA wisdom for a reason. When you speak with a sponsor or trusted person, the dark stuff loses its power. Saying it aloud makes it real, and that reality is the first step toward humility and change.

There’s a magic moment in the room when you stop carrying the burden alone. You’ll likely discover you’re far from unique — others have skeletons too, and hearing that normalizes you. A good sponsor or trusted listener will help you see what you missed, point out assets as well as defects, and hold you accountable in a kind way so you can actually clean house instead of just thinking about it.

This step brings responsibility. Once you admit it aloud, you can’t hide behind excuses anymore. That’s painful — especially when you soberly admit things you once blamed on drinking — and it’s also freeing. Forgiveness often follows: once you learn to forgive others honestly, you make room to be forgiven. You’ll also notice humility and serenity start to grow.

Practical tip: choose your person with care — usually a sponsor or someone spiritually fit who has walked through similar stuff. Speak aloud (not just type it), take the hour of reflection afterward, and add anything you missed. It’s okay if you’re scared; most of us are. God, for many, shows up through another human’s wise words — so don’t try to do this alone.

It’s hard. It’s necessary. And it works. If you’re thinking about Step Five, know this: you don’t have to be perfect going in, just willing. Shine the light, tell the truth, and let yourself be lighter on the other side.

A Shot Glass of Recovery

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