A Guide to Steps 6 and 7 in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

When you reach Steps 6 and 7 in AA, you’re entering a pivotal phase of your recovery journey. These steps of Alcoholics Anonymous represent a profound shift from self-examination to spiritual growth and personal change. After completing the fearless moral inventory in your previous steps, you’re now ready to take action on what you’ve discovered.

Understanding the Purpose of Steps 6 and 7 of AA

Steps 6 and 7 of the AA program work together as a transformative pair. While the earlier steps helped you identify your character defects through personal inventory, these steps focus on becoming ready for change and actively seeking help from your higher power to overcome those character flaws.

Step 6 states: “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

Step 7 states: “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

At first glance, these AA steps might seem similar, but each plays a distinct role in your recovery process. Step 6 is about achieving readiness and willingness, while Step 7 involves taking the act of faith to actually ask your higher power for help.

The Significance of Step 6: Becoming Ready

The sixth step is often misunderstood as an easy task. Many people working through the 12-step recovery program assume that simply wanting to change is enough. However, being “entirely ready” requires more than just acknowledging your character defects. It demands a conscious decision to let go of the character defects that have served as survival skills or coping mechanisms for a long time.

Identifying Your Defects of Character

Through your work in the 4th step and 5th step, you’ve already created a detailed list of your character faults. These might include:

• Negative behaviors like dishonesty, selfishness, or manipulation
• Harmful behaviors such as anger, resentment, or fear
• Addictive behaviors beyond alcohol abuse
• Negative traits, including pride, greed, or envy
• Thought patterns that lead to substance misuse and personal issues

The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services emphasizes that these defects often developed as a matter of fact responses to life’s challenges. Understanding this context helps you approach the recovery process with an open mind, rather than harsh self-judgment.

The Challenge of Readiness

Many sober alcoholics struggle with Step 6 because certain character flaws might seem useful or even necessary. You might think, “If I let go of my need to control everything, won’t my whole life fall apart?” or “Don’t I need my anger to protect myself?”

This common problem reflects how our old habits become deeply ingrained. On a regular basis, AA meetings provide a support group where you can discuss these concerns with others who’ve walked this path. Hearing from people who’ve successfully completed the remaining steps can provide a sense of hope and practical guidance.

The importance of Step 6 lies in recognizing that these negative qualities and problematic behaviors have caused more harm than good. What worked in high school or during difficult times in the first place may no longer serve you as you pursue sober living and personal growth.

Step 7: Humbly Asking for Help

After becoming entirely ready in Step 6, the next step involves humbly asking your higher power to remove your shortcomings. This represents a significant shift in approach; rather than relying solely on willpower to achieve self-improvement, you’re acknowledging that spiritual practices and divine guidance are essential to lasting recovery.

The 7th Step Prayer

Many people in AA use the 7th Step Prayer found in the Big Book:

“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.”

This prayer embodies humility and surrender. Two spiritual values that are crucial for addiction treatment and long-term sobriety.

What Does “Humbly” Mean?

The word “humbly” in Step 7 is crucial. It doesn’t mean groveling or self-degradation. Instead, it represents a positive attitude of openness and acceptance, acknowledging that, as human beings, we sometimes need help. This act of faith acknowledges that our higher power can accomplish what we cannot do on our own.

Working with a sponsor and attending AA meetings on a regular basis helps maintain this humble perspective. Your recovery community serves as a constant reminder that you’re not alone in battling alcohol addiction or dealing with mental health challenges.

The Connection Between Steps 6 and 7

While AA’s Steps 6 and 7 can be studied separately, they function as a unified process. Think of Step 6 as preparing the soil and Step 7 as planting the seeds of positive change. You can’t skip the preparation and expect growth, just as you can’t prepare the ground and never plant anything.

This pivotal role in your recovery journey represents the transition from understanding your problems to actively working toward solutions. After identifying your alcohol problem and underlying issues in previous steps, and then becoming ready to change, you’re finally taking action by asking for divine intervention.

Common Challenges in Steps 6 and 7

Distinguishing Between Defects and Behaviors

One common problem people encounter is confusing defects of character with the negative behaviors those defects produce. For instance, selfishness is a defect, while stealing or lying are behaviors that stem from selfishness. The recovery process aims to address the root causes of the issues, which will naturally reduce the negative behaviors.

The “Parking Space” Test

Some members of the AA program joke about the “parking space” test. Asking your higher power for a convenient parking space and then judging the effectiveness of your spiritual practices based on whether you get one. This misses the point of Step 7 entirely. You’re asking for the removal of character defects that block you from being a better person and helping others, not for practical things or personal convenience.

Dealing with the Dry Drunk Syndrome

Even in sober living, some people experience what’s called being a “dry drunk”. Abstaining from alcohol but not addressing the character defects and negative habits that contributed to their substance use in the first place. Steps 6 and 7 are specifically designed to prevent this by promoting spiritual awakening and genuine personal change.

Practical Ways to Work Steps 6 and 7

Create a Character Defects List

Building on your work from the earlier steps, create a comprehensive list of all your character faults. Be honest and thorough. Your sponsor or support group can help you identify areas where you may be blind.

Regular Reflection

Set aside time on a regular basis to reflect on your defects of character and your progress. This isn’t about dwelling on negative qualities but about maintaining awareness of where you need spiritual growth.

Practice Different Ways of Responding

When you notice old ways of thinking or behaving resurfacing, pause and consider alternative responses. This conscious decision-making fosters the development of new thought patterns over time.

Share in AA Meetings

Your support group benefits from your honesty, and you benefit from theirs. Discussing your journey through these steps helps normalize the challenges and celebrate the positive change everyone experiences.

Work with a Sponsor

A sponsor who’s been through the twelve steps can provide invaluable guidance. They can share their first-hand experience with becoming ready and asking their higher power for help.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Recovery is a long way from quick or easy, but maintaining hope and a positive attitude is an important step toward success. Remember that these steps aren’t about perfection. They’re about progress and spiritual growth.

The Transformative Power of Steps 6 and 7

The profound significance of Steps 6 and 7 AA process becomes clear over time. These steps represent more than just another requirement in the 12-step program. They’re where personal growth truly accelerates. By letting go of character defects and inviting your higher power to help reshape your character, you’re opening yourself to becoming a fundamentally better person.

Many people report that working these steps helped them address not just their alcohol abuse but also improved their romantic relationships, work life, and sense of purpose. The spiritual awakening that often occurs during this phase extends far beyond recovery from addiction treatment. It touches every aspect of your whole life.

Moving Forward After Steps 6 and 7

Completing these steps doesn’t mean your character defects instantly disappear. Recovery is an ongoing recovery journey, and you’ll return to these principles throughout your life. However, having gone through the process of becoming ready and asking for help, you’ve established a foundation for continued personal change.

The remaining steps will build on this work, but the willingness and humility you’ve developed here will serve you throughout your recovery process. Whether you’re dealing with substance use, mental health issues, or simply trying to live more authentically, the lessons from Steps 6 and 7 remain relevant.

Conclusion

Steps 6 and 7 in AA represent a critical transition in your recovery journey. By becoming entirely ready to have your higher power remove your defects of character, and then humbly asking for that help, you’re partnering with something greater than yourself in the process of profound personal transformation.

These steps teach us that while we must do the work of becoming ready and asking for help, we don’t have to carry the burden of changing ourselves alone. The 12-step program recognizes that lasting recovery involves both personal effort and spiritual support. Through regular attendance at AA meetings, working with a sponsor, and commitment to these spiritual practices, you can experience the freedom that comes from releasing your character flaws and embracing a new way of living.

Remember, if you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or substance misuse, reaching out to addiction treatment professionals, attending AA meetings, and working through the twelve steps with a support group can provide the help you need. Recovery is possible, and Steps 6 and 7 are powerful tools on that path toward healing and spiritual awakening.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional addiction treatment or medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, please contact a healthcare provider or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.