Step 5 emphasizes that, after you have completed the exhaustive self-inventory in Step 4, you openly admit what you discovered to your Higher Power, to yourself, to your counselor, to your SEA buddies, and to anyone else you wish. Your inventory of the positives can become a rich source of material of self-affirmation. The inventory of the negatives is a goal setting process identifying those negative behaviors which you can work on in your recovery from low self-esteem. Openly admitting your positives while committing to work at rectifying your negatives is what this step is about. It is the public statement of words and concepts which, if said over and over again, will become a reality. The more you say it, the more the word becomes "flesh.''

It takes great humility to admit that you are recovering from negative behavioral consequences of low self-esteem but only in admitting this fact can you begin the road to recovery. If you deny or ignore this fact and keep it from others, they will never be able to assist and support your efforts at recovery.

You and some one close to you (counselor, Buddy at SEA, friend, relative, spouse) need to review your Step 4 inventory. This review is a means for you to get the social support you need to assist you to accept personal responsibility for your own life and to systematically help you overcome the negative impact of low self-esteem in your life.

Answer the following questions as you proceed in Step 5:

1. How comfortable is it to admit that you have negative behaviors which result from having low self-esteem?

2. How much easier is it for you to admit your negatives rather than your positives?

3. How do you feel admitting your strengths and weaknesses to:

• Your Higher Power

• Yourself

• Your counselor

• Your buddies at SEA

• Others

4. What value do you see in this open admission of positives and negatives?

5. How different is this "open admission'' model from the "secret keeping'' you experienced in your dysfunctional family of origin?

6. How does the rule to always have humility about your "good points'' contribute to your low self-esteem?

7. How does the rule to openly castigate and punish only yourself for your faults and failing contribute to your low self-esteem?

8. How does the balanced approach to Step 4 and 5 help you in your recovery process from low self-esteem?

9. How do you feel about yourself as a result of completing Steps 4 and 5?

10. What assistance do you need from your counselor, buddies at SEA and others to help you sustain the healing process begun in Steps 4 and 5?