7th Step Assignment

GHOD

July 2020 Homework Assignment

Step Seven

“We Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings”

By now our hope should be developed, and we should have also developed some humility. We can see ourselves more clearly and the awareness of our character defects has been raised. “Once we know something, we cannot go back to unknowing it,” God reveals as much truth as we can live up to.

The key ingredient in living the Seventh Step is “humility.” Humiliation and humility are not to be confused in this Step. The Twelve Step way of life is humble, but not in any way meek. If we are as humble, as we are grateful, we have gotten honest with ourselves.

Just like every other attitude, humility must become a discipline to be developed. Remember, what we live with we learn, what we learn we practice, what we practice we become, and what we become has consequences. If we practice the Sixth Step, humility will result (don’t pass this over with a minimum of concern). When we ask God for help “to remove our shortcomings,” we must move and act in a manner that reflects our willingness and surrender, this then gives relief from the limitations of our past ways. Humility is our acceptance of ourselves, based on our continual surrender.

The following aspects will help to make Step Seven a foundation for the “rest of our lives:” spiritual values; service; perspective beyond our addition to drugs (food, sex, and so on) to the addictive nature of our lives; overcoming fear; trust/asking for help; understanding and trusting the process; dealing with stress; asking through prayer and being willing to receive through humility; taking responsibility/action; and solution-focused thinking.

If we really want to live our best life, we must stop clinging to negative, self-defeating behaviors (stupid things that mess up recovery). We must stop allowing the cast of our character defects (resentment, fear, self-pity, dishonesty, anger, etc.) to undermine us in our recovery.

It’s time (our greatest opportunity, is right now) for the seeds of humility, that were sown in our spirits from the previous Steps to take root and grow. This work must be reflective of our own individual spiritual paths, “the work is yours to do.”

We must learn to take the intellectual knowledge and turn it into emotional and spiritual reality (living), so that we can continue to change and grow. Look inward and upward and tell yourself the truth!!!

1. How have you spiritually prepared yourself for the Seventh Step?

2. What exactly is humility for you? And, what’s your relationship to it?

3. What shortcoming is still causing pain and misery (chaos) in your life without the drugs? Why won’t you let go?

4. How do you perceive yourself? Have you really changed? Have you become a better person? Explain

The answers will come if your own house is in order.

“As you struggle, you look down at yourself and realize that around your neck is a chain with a giant rock, a burden much too heavy to swim with. Your friends yell “Drop the Rock,” but you don't. That rock is your defects. Your fear, your anger, your resentment. You must drop it, if you want to truly live.” We pray “God, help me today to find balance between my character defects and the principles of our program, so as, to be useful to myself, all others, and You, the God of my understanding.” As we let go of our shortcomings and find their influence weakening, we’ll notice that a loving God replaces those defects with quality attributes (we are happy, joyous and free).

Study Guides:

Basic Text, It Works How and Why, The Step Working Guide, and Drop the Rock.