A Personal Approach to Step 11

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”

There are many reasons why some people may struggle with Step 11.  Some may feel uncomfortable because they don’t have an understanding of a Higher Power.  Others may feel awkward about the act of spending quiet time in prayer or meditation.  These feelings are to be expected because chances are during life in active addiction, the actions required in Step 11 were not top of mind.  Nevertheless, it’s important that one overcomes such feelings to find the right approach for progression in recovery.

In this personal account, Dominique A. tells about her experience with Step 11 and how everyone’s spiritual journey is different.

     “What works for me spiritually may not work for others, and that’s all right. To me, there’s no right or wrong; it’s about experience.

     I developed a daily spiritual practice that was working for me. In Step 11, I took the opportunity to deepen my conscious contact through meditation and prayer. I wanted to put my faith in something greater than myself. I wanted to grow my relationship with my Higher Power and myself. I’d felt alone quite enough in my life. A Higher Power meant that I never had to feel alone again.

     I adopted a meditation practice to gain some control over my thought life and journey deep inside myself. I began talking to my Higher Power and getting out into nature to experience a great peace and joy. I read books and listened to audios that encouraged my spiritual journey. All of these things help me stay centered and lead me to walk a path that not only improves my life experience, but others’ experience as well.

     I’m a firm believer that my emotional breakdown due to my addictions was really just the platform for my spiritual awakening. My perspective on life changed and continues to change. I don’t sweat the small stuff much anymore. I look at the bigger picture and my larger purpose in life.

     Whether you believe in a Higher Power or not, we can probably all agree that Love is the highest power around. In Step 11, even an atheist could get in better contact with Love, embrace Love, and let that Love ooze out into humanity.

     After all, I feel like that’s really what we all want deep down: unconditional Love from others and ourselves.”

Finding the approach to Step 11 which works for you is an important key to recovery on many levels including emotional and spiritual.

Dominique A. excerpt is taken from Recovery.org