Step Seven of the 12 Steps of Recovery is short, but it also holds a lot of power. Step Seven reads, “Humbly ask him to remove our shortcomings.”
This step emphasizes humility and personal growth.
What Does it Mean to Be Humble?
First, let’s look at what being humble is all about. Being humble is something that comes from experiencing humility through the pain and discomfort we experience.
There is a powerful line in a specific reading from As Bill Sees It: “Pain is the touchstone for spiritual progress.
Those moments when we feel broken lead us to realize where we need to learn to listen and ask for help.
Understanding Our Shortcomings
Once again, we are asked to put our pride and ego aside, to ask our higher power to help us remove our shortcomings.
Now, what is a shortcoming? This is a term we use for something that is a fault or failure to meet a certain standard, found mostly within a person’s character.
This term also works hand in hand with what we call character defects—which are negative behaviors and personality traits that can hinder our recovery. Some examples of these include:
- Anger
- Dishonesty
- Selfishness
- Resentments
A lot of these defects of character are based on survival instinct. They stem from the pain and damage that has been caused by our addiction and behaviors.
Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous help us be able to feel and deal.
A Step Toward Lasting Recovery
Step Seven allows us to call upon the help of our higher power, helps us grow by admitting our defects, and sets in motion a plan to better handle challenges as they arise. All of these skills are crucial for long-lasting recovery.
