Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
-Step 7 AA
7th Step Prayer
“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
-Big Book of AA
In step 7 we build on this willingness and appeal to our Higher Power12-step programs greatly stress surrender to and daily communication with a Higher Power. Having trust in something greater than yourself is considered essential for returning sanity in the unmanageable life of an addict. This can be a traditional deity, a spiritual entity or a social one such as th.... Here we “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.” At this point we start to take action towards removing our shortcomings.
Our flaws vary wildly. However, they all do have something in common. They all encourage and sustain a self-absorbed and selfish way of life. Therefore, one way to work on the removal of our defects is to think more about helping those around us and less about promoting or own narrow interests.
Therefore, humility should guide us throughout this process. As we work through all the steps, but this step in particular, we should cultivate that sense that the world does not revolve around us. That there is no justification for our holding on to flaws which hurt others. However, always remember that humility is not a form of self-negation or hatred. Humble person understands that while the world does not revolve around them, they are worthy and deserving of happiness.
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We begin a dialogue with our Higher Power and ask, rather than demand, that we be aided in overcoming our shortcomings.
If you haven’t already, this is a good time to establish a regular habit of prayer and meditation. This helps us remain in tune with the will of our Higher Power. Through prayer and meditation, we hope to cultivate gratitude towards our Higher Power and avoid bargaining and petitioning.
However, as the old saying goes “God helps those who help themselves.” That means you need to actively make life choices which support the removal of these flaws. For example, if your flaw is gluttony then it is not enough to simply ask that it be removed, you must also actively work to change your eating habits as well! The two reinforce each other.
Every time we avoid behavior or places that triggerInternal and external cues which when encountered increase the cravings of an addict for the substance or behavior on which they are dependent. This can include a certain smell, place, or person the addict associates with trauma or use. our addiction or the worst sides of our personality, we are working with our Higher Power towards the removal of our flaws.
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