Steps 6 and 7 – Part 6 – Mark – 2001

About This Speaker Tape

Mark and Dave dismantle the machinery of fear and the 'theater of the lie.' Mark describes fear as the very fabric of his being—a paralyzing force that drove his drinking and subsequent depression in sobriety. He argues that fear is the litmus test for self-will; when fear arises, it's a sign that he is relying on 'Mark' rather than his Higher Power. The conversation shifts to the 'hit parade' of fears—boiling down hundreds of anxieties into a core few—and the necessity of a 'sex inventory' to overhaul distorted belief systems.

They discuss the 'sane and sound ideal' for relationships, moving from a place of needing others to change to a place of wholeness. The narrative is one of stripping away the ego's armor, replacing the 'pink elephant' of fear with a vision of love, and accepting a disciplined way of life to keep the ego in permanent check.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Mark discusses fear as the fabric of his being and the trap of self-reliance.
• 5:45 Discussion of the first three steps and the process of writing a 'pitiful inventory'.
• 11:20 Mark explains the 'boil down' process for fear inventories and the 'hit parade' of fears.
• 18:15 Instruction on the Big Book's guidance for praying for others to soften one's own heart.
• 24:50 Mark discusses the '17 area inventory' for long-term sobriety growth.
• 31:10 Exercise on defeating fear through expressing love to strangers.
• 42:15 Discussion on forgiveness and the influence of Emmett Fox on Bill W.
• 51:30 Mark addresses the 'overhauling' of sex and relationship inventories.
• 58:10 Mark shares his experience of meeting a woman who transcends his 'sane and sound ideal'.
• 1:05:20 Dave discusses the dangers of 'the hairy eyeball' and using sex as a replacement for alcohol.