Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

STEP SEVEN

As we approach the actual taking of Step Seven, it might
be well if we A.A.'s inquire once more just what our deeper
objectives are. Each of us would like to live at peace with
himself and with his fellows. We would like to be assured
that the grace of God can do for us what we cannot do for
ourselves. We have seen that character defects based upon
shortsighted or unworthy desires are the obstacles that
block our path toward these objectives. We now clearly see
that we have been making unreasonable demands upon
ourselves, upon others, and upon God.

The chief activator of our defects has been self-centered
fear—primarily fear that we would lose something we al-
ready possessed or would fail to get something we demand-
ed. Living upon a basis of unsatisfied demands, we were in
a state of continual disturbance and frustration. Therefore,
no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of
reducing these demands. The difference between a demand
and a simple request is plain to anyone.

The Seventh Step is where we make the change in our
attitude which permits us, with humility as our guide, to
move out from ourselves toward others and toward God.
The whole emphasis of Step Seven is on humility. It is really
saying to us that we now ought to be willing to try humility
in seeking the removal of our other shortcomings just as
we did when we admitted that we were powerless over alco-
hol, and came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves
could restore us to sanity. If that degree of humility could
enable us to find the grace by which such a deadly obsession
could be banished, then there must be hope of the same re-
sult respecting any other problem we could possibly have.