Pronunciation: KAIR-ik-ter
Simple meaning
Character means the kind of person someone is.
It includes patterns of thought, motive, conduct, honesty, courage, selfishness, humility, responsibility, and willingness.
In recovery, character is not just reputation. It is what is being formed, corrected, exposed, and changed.
Older meaning
Older meanings of character include a mark, quality, distinguishing feature, moral nature, reputation, or the traits that make a person recognizable.
That matters in Big Book study because character is not only about how a person appears to others.
It is about what is actually true inside and how that truth shows up in conduct.
A person may have a good public image and still have dishonest character.
A person may have a damaged reputation and still be growing into better character.
Why this word matters
Character matters because recovery is not only about stopping drinking.
Stopping is vital, but the Big Book also points toward a changed life.
That change includes honesty, humility, amends, restitution, prayer, meditation, service, usefulness, and freedom from self-will.
A person may stop drinking and still carry old character patterns: resentment, fear, dishonesty, selfishness, pride, self-pity, manipulation, or avoidance.
Recovery brings those patterns into the light.
The goal is not to shame the person.
The goal is to become willing to have those patterns changed.
Character and inventory
Inventory is one of the main places where character becomes visible.
A moral inventory helps a person look at resentments, fears, harms, conduct, motives, and patterns.
The question is not only, “What happened?”
It is also:
What does this show about my character?
Where was I selfish?
Where was I dishonest?
Where was I afraid?
Where was I self-seeking?
Where did I harm others?
Where did I avoid responsibility?
Where do I need to change?
Inventory helps move character from vague opinion to honest examination.
Character and defects
In recovery language, people often talk about defects of character.
That phrase can sound harsh at first. It does not mean a person is worthless. It means there are patterns, habits, motives, and attitudes that block useful living and spiritual growth.
A defect of character may show up as fear, pride, dishonesty, resentment, selfishness, control, self-pity, or avoidance.
Seeing a defect is not the same as being condemned.
It is an invitation to honesty, humility, prayer, and change.
Character and conduct
Character becomes visible in conduct.
A person may talk about recovery, faith, God, humility, and service. But over time, character shows in what they actually do.
Do they tell the truth?
Do they make amends?
Do they keep commitments?
Do they become useful?
Do they seek guidance?
Do they repair harm where possible?
Do they admit wrong when wrong?
Do they treat people differently than before?
Recovery is not only what a person says they believe. It is also how that belief becomes action.
Common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is to think character means personality.
Personality and character are not the same thing.
A person may be quiet, funny, serious, emotional, blunt, shy, outgoing, or intense. Those traits are not automatically character defects.
Character has more to do with moral and spiritual patterns: honesty, selfishness, fear, responsibility, humility, willingness, and conduct.
Another misunderstanding is to think character change is instant.
Some change may happen quickly. But many character patterns are uncovered and changed gradually through continued inventory, prayer, amends, service, and honest living.
Study note
This website works best with a copy of the Big Book in your hand.
As you read, notice where the Big Book talks about defects, shortcomings, inventory, selfishness, dishonesty, fear, humility, amends, and usefulness.
Even when the exact word “character” is not used often, the issue is often nearby.
Recovery asks not only what a person has done, but what kind of person they are becoming.
Big Book study references
Look for this word or idea near pages 59, 64, 72, 75, 76, 83, and 84.
Page references are to the printed Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Related words
defects
shortcomings
moral
inventory
honesty
humility
responsibility
selfishness
self-centeredness
self-will
fear
amends
restitution
action
usefulness