Step 7 of the AA 12-Step Program (2024)

Step 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) encourages people to practice humility by asking a higher power to remove their shortcomings and replace their imperfections with spiritual practices. This step emphasizes acceptance of flaws and the need for personal change.

In this article, we’ll go over how Step 7 works and what to expect at this part of your journey through the 12 Steps for Recovery in AA.

AA Step 7: What Is Humility?

Humility means having modesty, a lack of pride, and a humble view of your importance. In AA, it’s suggested that people with addiction may lack humility, which makes it harder for them to admit to their mistakes and shortcomings or see the need for change.

Step 7 can help people develop a richer and deeper understanding of themselves and their connections to others.

How the 7th Step in AA Works

Step 7 is the last step in a phase of recovery that began withStep 4. The goal of Step 7 is to acknowledge and address personal shortcomings and flaws that contribute to problematic alcohol consumption.

In Step 7, you will work on humbling yourself and seeing that you are not perfect. Then, you ask a higher power to remove these shortcomings.

Can I Do Step 7 If I'm Not Religious?

In AA, the use of the phrase “God as we understand Him” means that a person’s understanding of the source of their inner strength is personal.

Depending on a person’s beliefs, they may change the word “God” to the name of the religious entity that is part of their life.

Others may use a list of 12 Steps that are phrased to be secular. Using “higher power” is a popular alternative to “God,” but others choose “nature,” “the universe” or even “love” to refer to the source from which they draw strength.

Instead of a prayer, people can ask for guidance or strength throughmeditationor a simple mantra.

Step 7 of AA has a prayer that people can recite as they strive to connect with their higher power and spiritual practice.

Here is how to say the Step 7 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.”

The point of Step 7 is to help people realize their character flaws and achieve a new perspective by humbling themselves and asking for help in addressing these issues.

Why Step 7 in AA Recovery Matters

Working through Step 7 can be challenging, but comes with lasting rewards. By practicing humility, you will be better able to recognize that you are not perfect and that you need help to overcome addiction.

Asking for help from a higher power can be a humbling but empowering experience. For example, you may find that it helps you:

• Change the attitudes that might contribute to addiction
• Practice humility in order to let go of the flaws that have led to harm
• Prepare for the next step of the process, which is about acknowledging how their actions have hurt others
• Let go of defensiveness, blame, and excuses that stand in the way of moving forward without alcohol

Step 7 can also help you see your goals in life more clearly.

In previous steps, you admitted that you are powerless and that your alcohol addiction is not something you can manage on your own. Step 7 is about recognizing that embracing humility can give you a sense of peace.

Humility also gives you a realistic perspective on yourself. AA calls this viewing yourself as "right-sized" instead of seeing yourself with a sense of grandiosity or entitlement. In Step 7, you learn to accept who you are as you are. When you no longer see yourself as greater than you are, you may find yourself making less unreasonable demands on yourself and others.

According to AA if you do not practice humility and admit your shortcomings, you will keep making excuses for your actions, which undermines your ability to change your behavior.

How to Complete AA Step 7

There is no one right way to complete Step 7. It may involve simply reflecting on their shortcomings and asking for help overcoming these challenges for some people.

Others may choose to write out a list of their flaws to reflect on, seek out therapy, or get other support to help them work through this step.

Other things you can do as you work through Step 7 include:

• Reflecting on what you have learned in previous steps
• Considering how you have humbled yourself
• Appreciating how your own understanding of your higher power has been strengthened
• Engaging in prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices
• Considering your perspective and whether it is realistic and achievable

Regardless of how you approach it, Step 7 is an important step in recovery. If you are struggling with addiction and want to change your life for the better, working through this step can be a great way to begin your journey toward healing.

If You’re Struggling With Step 7

If you are working through Step 7 or considering it as part of your recovery process, know that you are not alone.Step 7 can be challenging, but with time and support, it can be a deeply rewarding experience.

Talk to a Mentor

You might find it useful to talk to someone who has already completed Step 7. Your sponsor, therapist, or another support person who has been through the 12 Steps can give you some insight and guidance.

Use Self-Compassion

Try to be understanding with yourself as you work through Step 7. It involves a lot of self-reflection and can stir up feelings of shame or guilt.

Be kind to yourself and focus on the positive changes that you hope to achieve in Step 7.

Change Your Mindset

Step 7 asks you to work on giving up an attitude of total self-reliance. Instead of “carrying the world” on your shoulders and trying to do everything in life alone, Step 7 helps you shift your perspective and learn to ask your higher power for help. With support, you can move forward and work toward change.

Be Patient

Step 7 emphasizes that recovery takes time. Mistakes and shortcomings will not disappear overnight, but if you stay humble and ask for help and guidance, you can do the work to improve your life and overcome addiction.

You may need to return to Step 7 in the future. Though you may change, new problems will come up or old ones may come back.

Practicing humility and asking for help to address the problems that come up in life lets you continue to grow and live life as your best possible self.

When you can humble yourself and ask for help, you may be ready to move on toStep 8of the 12-step program.

Real-World Examples of AA Step 7

Going through the 12 Steps is a personal journey, and your way won’t be just the same as someone else’s. If you are trying to think about how you’d like to approach Step 7, here are a few examples to show you how each component comes together.

Perhaps you identify and accept that one of your flaws is that you are childish or even mean when you don’t get your way. You start to see how this behavior has negatively affected your relationships. Then, you make a connection between stress and drinking.

Then, you can turn to your choice of a higher power and humbly ask for help removing the flaw so that you can move forward and make positive progress.

Maybe when you list your flaws, you notice that you cannot admit when you’re wrong. You’ll make excuses, blame someone else, and even lie rather than own up to a mistake. You may see that you get stuck in a “vicious cycle." You make a mistake and lie about it, and the guilt makes you want to drink. But the more you drink, the more mistakes you make.

You can ask your higher power to remove this shortcoming and give you the strength to admit when you’re wrong and grow from these experiences.