Resource for the AA 7th Step

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7. I humbly ask Him to eliminate my shortcomings

As an introduction to the step work:

Review Step 7 in our 12/12 book!

Participate in meetings where Step 7 is discussed!

Talk to your sponsor about Step 7!



7.1. I pray regularly to God.

Write down (reflect on) whether:

Do you acknowledge every character flaw in yourself?

Are you also willing to entrust these to God?

Are you ready to be useful to your fellow human beings?

Are you truly ready to be God's?

Are you willing to follow all of His commands?

Write down any experiences that support the idea that:

Regular prayer transforms the soul.

Practice the following (or something similar—according to your own spiritual principles):

My God, please:

Help me to live in the present, to be with You!

Help me not to condemn either my own or others' sins!

Help me to give as much as I can to others!

Help me to love and forgive unconditionally.

Help me to radiate joy and happiness to everyone.

Help me to live in peace with myself and others.

Help me to walk my own path, and to help others on theirs as well.



7.2. I begin to let go of my negative emotions and thoughts.

Practice daily with the list you compiled in Step 6, like this:

I RELEASE, I LET GO, I TRUST TO GOD:

my dark past

guilt

self-pity

sorrow

fear

stress

resentment

disappointments

aggressions

procrastination

envy

vanity

complaining

judging

expectations

selfishness

my own will

etc.



7.3. I begin to reduce my ego-centered expressions.

Look for examples among your own expressions of the following:

Labeling

Judging

Dramatizing

Expectations

Demands

Practice letting go of your ego expressions, like this:

Everything is good!

Everyone is good!

It's good here!

Let it go, trust God!

Live and let live!

God provides me with everything I need!



7.4. I begin to reduce my ego demands.

Practice daily with the list you compiled in Step 6, like this:

MY GOD! I HAVE NO DEMAND THAT

I be asked

I be understood

I be acknowledged

I be loved

I be right

I be validated

I be smarter

I be more

I be good

I win

I be happy

I want anything.

If you see that your external ego demands are a problem, you can also practice on those, like this:

I DO NOT DESIRE MORE:

energy

money

property

security

protection

status

benefit

advantage

power



7.5. I begin to let go of my false identities and beliefs.

Practice daily with the lists you compiled in Step 6, like this:

I AM NOT IDENTICAL:

to my life story

to my upbringing

to my schools

to my knowledge

to my abilities

to my work

to my relationships

to my appearance

to my family tree

to my nationality

to my illnesses

to my achievements

to my possessions

to my physical body

I AM NOT IDENTICAL:

to my belief system

to my political views

to my social status

to my reactions

to my memories

to my emotions

to my opinions

to my thoughts



7.6. I recognize that I am as perfect as God created me.

Write down (reflect on) whether:

Do you believe that you are as God created you?

Do you believe that God created you in His own image?

Do you believe that God wants you to be perfectly happy?

Do you believe that God will take away all your suffering if you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit instead of your ego?

Write down any experiences that support the idea that:

The ego only causes suffering.

Happiness is a choice.

Practice the following (or something similar):

I am as God created me.

God wants me to be happy.

Glory to God in the highest!



7.7. I know that I do not have to be anything.

Write down (reflect on) whether:

Do you often think about what you should be like?

Do you often strongly desire certain things?

Do you often engage in debates with others?

Do you think that you need to know certain things?

Do you think that you must do certain things?

Do you think that you must acquire certain things?

Do you think that you must possess certain things?

Practice the following (or something similar):

I know that if I allow it, God works on me. I know that:

I do not have to figure out what to be.

I do not have to want anything.

I do not have to believe in anything.

I do not have to know anything.

I do not have to do anything.

I do not have to acquire anything.

I do not have to possess anything.

I do not have to be anything.


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CHECKLIST QUESTIONS

For AA Step 7

Do you still have cherished character flaws?

Have you managed to let go of your negative emotions and thoughts?

Have you managed to reduce your ego-centered expressions?

Have you managed to decrease your ego demands?

Have you managed to let go of your false identities and beliefs?

Have you recognized that you are (perfect) as God created you?

Have you realized that you do not have to be anything?