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Step 7 Useful Humility

I practice cognitive behavioural training (CBT), and outgrow my self-centredness, by aspiring to God-centredness. The effort, or act of working Step 7 is my humility, I know it's ego deflation but seek God’s will anyway.

When I humbly ask my Higher Power to remove my defects of character, (Self will), He replaces them with the opposite characteristic, (God’s will). He does for me what I cannot do – but God will not do what I can do myself, so I must start practicing the opposite of my shortcomings.

Self-Will Power
Blocked from God		God's-Will Power
Conscious of God
Selfishness, Self-seeking — — Unselfishness, Altruistic
Dishonesty, Stealing, Lying — — Honesty, Generosity, Integrity
Resentment — — Forgiveness
Fear, Anger — — Courage, Love
As an alcoholic/addict, I am uniquely useful to God, He decides what I must change. I’m not sure how God will use me, but I trust He wants me to be useful.

So I pray that God removes from me all shortcomings blocking my usefulness to Him and my companions, here and now.

  1. Am I now, “willing that you should have all of me, good and bad?”” (Pg.76,¶2,L2).
  2. Will, “I pray that He removes from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to Him and my fellows?” (Pg.76,¶2,L3).
  3. Do I believe God will “Grant me strength as I go, to do His bidding?” (Pg.76,¶2,L5).

‘Usefulness’ is defined as, “So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness.” (Pg.132,¶2,L25),

I memorize the 7th Step Prayer, because I need His power to change, “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.” (Pg.76,¶2,L7). I also mix in the 3rd Step and Serenity prayer too.

The same way God removes my obsession to drink/use, I first need the Humility to quit my objectionable behaviour! I stay mindful of my fears and practice the opposite of my first instincts, then say, “Thy will (not mine) be done” (Pg.85,¶1,L19). With His help, I train myself to act responsibly.

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Step 7 Useful Humility

“So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making” (BBp62).

My pride was smashed once abstinence exposed all my selfishness. But AA encouraged me on hope of change beginning within myself, not from reordering the world.

“Nature’s poetry drips like rain, We speak in rhyme to explain” (Tao-Articulation).

Taoist's write poetry as a tool for self-discovery. By articulating experiences, I better understand my life and neutralize my ego. Knowledge of Tao is quick poetic perception.

“Be unified… take care with the inside, not what’s outside” (Epictetus).

Meaning stands with philosophy, not the mob. I’ve conflicting wants, desires and fears, like Jekyll and Hyde. So I seek internal integration to prevent external disintegration.

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:33).

The 'Truth of Being,’ means once I’m ready, everything else will be too. When I’ve the right mental state and see a demand, the opportunity to meet it will also arise.

This key indicates where to find the quotes in our Big Book. (The earlier editions have less roman numeral pages), we use the 4th edition, and include page numbers for the Abridged Large Print Edition, B-24;

  • (Pg.xi) = 4th Ed. page #
  • (¶1) = 1st complete Paragraph
  • (Top¶) = half Paragraph continued
  • (L5) = 5th Line from page top
  • (LP.xi) = Large Print Ed. page #
  • Bold Green italic = Prayer or Insight
  • Bold Red Italic = Quote or paraphrase