The author's first hurdle, while doing Step Seven, was that they, in the past thought that that to be humble meant they were to put others
needs before their own, which actually can be humiliating if done to excess. They learned that the actual definition of humble is "the ability
to see our true relationship to God and fellow human beings."
The second hurdle the author was met with, doing Step Seven, was asking for their HP to help them.Asking for help can be a very humbling
first step in this lesson but when mastered showed the author that it was okay to ask for help in order to grow in faith and confidence.
The third and last hurdle that the author faced while doing Step Seven was defining their shortcoming(s).Struggling not to equate shortcoming(s)
with "crimes, faults, sins or mistakes" because those shortcomings, they learned, were actually "blocks" within them that stopped them from
reaching their full potential and closeness to their HP.
Todays reminder: "There are many things that I can do to improve my life and to further my recovery, but I cannot heal myself." "Today I can
ask for help in becoming free of all that blocks me from my true self."
Todays Quote: "If my problems have brought me to prayer, then they have served a purpose." ~ As we Understood
These are the questions I asked myself while doing Step Seven:
1. When I feel the need to control someone or something what does it tell me about myself?
2. How does my shortcoming(s) affect my relationship with others and my higher power?
3. What experiences helped me be more open to the role of my higher power in my life?
4. How did I find inability to ask God to remove my shortcomings?
5. How has the pain caused by my shortcomings brought me the ability I need to ask for help?
6. What obstacles have I faced in working Step Seven?
7. What helps me to hold habit in check and recognize an opportunity for personal growth?
My answer to the last question was:
The realization that if I am to make a success of my life, that I will face those fears of failure, loss and
mistakes and rely on my HP, that he has greater plans for me to grow and prosper ODAT!
Which questions, if any, did you find the most relevant in doing Step Seven?
{{HUGS}} to everyone!!TGIF!!
Lyne said
Jun 9, 2023
Thank you Debbie for your service and share. What struck me as I read your passage above, is that before program I didn't like myself. I was critical and thought I couldn't do anything right. If I had a true self, I certainly couldn't see it. All I saw was shortcomings. First my sponsor and then in meetings, I came to terms with my "true self." Yes I have shortcomings and need to work on them. Program gave me permission to see my character defects. But especially in the relationship built over time with my sponsor, she helped me to see many positive qualities. So I'm good with Step 7 and all the Steps. I will never be perfect and will always need to strive to improve. But now I can see the balance--I also have many wonderful qualities and I'm a nice human being. Love alanon.
DM2021 said
Jun 9, 2023
Well Lyne, I like you too and think you are a wonderful human being!!!
So glad Al-Anon showed you how nice you are!!!
Enigmatic said
Jun 13, 2023
Thanks Deb and Lyne for great stuff above, those are all great questions...
I fancy myself pretty decent at introspection, but for the spiritual type and my ALanon journey I really appreciated Paths to Recovery, and used the questions at the end of every chapter topic to learn more about myself.
Paths asked me to think about what humility meant to me, and identify how I saw it demonstrated in others, which of my old behaviors got in the way of my being humble, whether I could laugh lightheartedly at myself and find humor in my shortcomings, and how could I humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings.
All of these questions are helpful in that they drive thought and meditation, encourage drilling down to explore what I'm really thinking, what's driving my perspective, expectations and thus my worldview and actions.
Finally, by finishing always with spiritual realignment, over time, I am encouraged to adopt a more spiritual mindset...grateful for the wisdom and reminders
DM2021 said
Jun 13, 2023
Thank you Paul for your sharing your journey with us.
Daffodils said
Jun 14, 2023
Thank you Debbie for your service/ESH.
I appreciate the useful questions and shares above. I tend to overthink which often leads to bad actions or crazy conclusions. Thanks for reminder to use Paths to Recovery. I am consistently inconsistent so a constructive guide to direct/challenge my thinking sounds like a good idea. First, I have stop thinking about it and start doing it. Grateful for a patient HP.
The topic of today's reading is about what the author learned by doing Step Seven.
Step Seven reads: Humbly ask (our Higher Power) to remove our shortcomings.
The author's first hurdle, while doing Step Seven, was that they, in the past thought that that to be humble meant they were to put others
needs before their own, which actually can be humiliating if done to excess. They learned that the actual definition of humble is "the ability
to see our true relationship to God and fellow human beings."
The second hurdle the author was met with, doing Step Seven, was asking for their HP to help them. Asking for help can be a very humbling
first step in this lesson but when mastered showed the author that it was okay to ask for help in order to grow in faith and confidence.
The third and last hurdle that the author faced while doing Step Seven was defining their shortcoming(s). Struggling not to equate shortcoming(s)
with "crimes, faults, sins or mistakes" because those shortcomings, they learned, were actually "blocks" within them that stopped them from
reaching their full potential and closeness to their HP.
Todays reminder: "There are many things that I can do to improve my life and to further my recovery, but I cannot heal myself." "Today I can
ask for help in becoming free of all that blocks me from my true self."
Todays Quote: "If my problems have brought me to prayer, then they have served a purpose." ~ As we Understood
These are the questions I asked myself while doing Step Seven:
1. When I feel the need to control someone or something what does it tell me about myself?
2. How does my shortcoming(s) affect my relationship with others and my higher power?
3. What experiences helped me be more open to the role of my higher power in my life?
4. How did I find inability to ask God to remove my shortcomings?
5. How has the pain caused by my shortcomings brought me the ability I need to ask for help?
6. What obstacles have I faced in working Step Seven?
7. What helps me to hold habit in check and recognize an opportunity for personal growth?
My answer to the last question was:
The realization that if I am to make a success of my life, that I will face those fears of failure, loss and
mistakes and rely on my HP, that he has greater plans for me to grow and prosper ODAT!
Which questions, if any, did you find the most relevant in doing Step Seven?
{{HUGS}} to everyone!! TGIF!!
Well Lyne, I like you too and think you are a wonderful human being!!!
So glad Al-Anon showed you how nice you are!!!
I fancy myself pretty decent at introspection, but for the spiritual type and my ALanon journey I really appreciated Paths to Recovery, and used the questions at the end of every chapter topic to learn more about myself.
Paths asked me to think about what humility meant to me, and identify how I saw it demonstrated in others, which of my old behaviors got in the way of my being humble, whether I could laugh lightheartedly at myself and find humor in my shortcomings, and how could I humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings.
All of these questions are helpful in that they drive thought and meditation, encourage drilling down to explore what I'm really thinking, what's driving my perspective, expectations and thus my worldview and actions.
Finally, by finishing always with spiritual realignment, over time, I am encouraged to adopt a more spiritual mindset...grateful for the wisdom and reminders