Learning our own shortcomings
As our patterns emerge, our discomfort will increase. These patterns carry within them hints of our defects of character and shortcomings. Defects of character are part of humanity - even God’s heroes and heroines of faith had their own sets of shortcomings. A shortcoming is a character trait that continues to cause harm to self and/or others. Character defects are not behaviors like over-eating, under-eating, drinking and drugging or workaholism. Our ‘bad behaving’ is a symptom of these traits, not the trait itself.
Here is a long list of possible shortcomings. In the days ahead refer back to this list if you need help figuring out your own habitual shortcomings.
Anger
Self-justification
Self-centeredness
Rationalization
Procrastination
Suspiciousness
Worrisomeness
Indifference
Approval-seeking
Arrogance
Impulsivity
Panic
Complacency
Withholding
Perfectionism
Smugness
Selfishness
Fear
Sloth
Depression
Tenseness
Over-sensitivity
Impatience
Phoniness
Aimlessness
Despondency
Complaining
Aggression
Judgmentalism
Stubbornness
Intolerance
Anxiety
Greed
Unkindness
Irresponsibility
Pessimism D
iscourteousness
Over-compliance
Violence
Melancholy
Whining
Neediness
Resentment
Hate
Unrealistic
Gossip
Laziness
Dishonesty
Insecurity
Envy
Ingratitude
Rumination
Manipulation
Evasiveness
Disagreeable
Self-pity
Lust
Domineering
Unreasonableness
Rigidity
Lying
Pridefulness
Jealousy
Self-righteousness
Living in the future
Control
Indiscretion
Self-indulgence
Whew! That’s a long list! You may want to transfer it into your journal for future use. If you aren’t working through a fourth step but are a kind and decent person who is patiently reading through the blog anyway, bless you. You may want to take a peek and see if any of these traits ring any bells for you too!
