I've completed my 4th step and I had the same experience. Relief! It was great to see that I'm not a horrible person. When I heard "charactor defects" I thought of a defective car that you take back to the dealership. But when I went through it with my sponser, I realized that a lot of my charactor defects are simply not treating myself fairly and stuff. And once I realized that things like fear prompted a lot of my behavior, now I can stop it before I start it. I do a fourth step daily. When I start seeing that I'm being greedy or fearful or full of pride, I stop it. It's helped me live an honest existence and a free one too! I'm starting to get that serenity. I still have moments for sure, but now I feel I have the tools to deal with them. I'm on step 8 but haven't started it. I just changed sponsers so we'll be starting that soon. Working the steps has been my saving grace! I'm such a better person now. If only the whole world worked the steps. What an amazing place the world would be. =)

~Rayna