“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”
When I first read Step 7 in our morning group, I honestly didn’t know what to make of it. “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings”? It sounded like something out of church, and I wasn’t sure it applied to me. But after a few weeks in addiction care, I started to understand what this step is really about — and it hit me harder than I expected.
Learning to Surrender
Before I came into this programme, I was used to trying to fix everything myself. I tried controlling people, hiding parts of myself, and pretending I didn’t care. Step 7 isn’t about pretending we’re perfect — it’s about admitting that we’re not, and asking for help anyway.
I’ve spent a lot of time in therapy here at Ocean Bay Recovery, and one thing my counsellor keeps reminding me is that change starts when we stop fighting ourselves. That’s what Step 7 means to me now: it’s not about fixing my personality, it’s about being willing to let go of the behaviours that are holding me back — even if I’m scared to let them go.
Addiction care at Ocean Bay has helped me realise that healing isn’t just about quitting — it’s about changing the way I relate to myself and others, and Step 7 plays a big part in that.
Humility Isn’t Weakness
Before this, I thought being humble meant being weak, like just lying down and letting life happen to you. But now I see it differently. Humility is the courage to admit I need help, and that I can’t do everything on my own. That’s a big shift for someone like me, who’s spent years trying to survive alone.
In group sessions and one-on-one therapy, I started to see the patterns I’ve been stuck in — manipulation, blaming others, and avoiding responsibility. These are common defence mechanisms in recovery. They weren’t just bad habits — they were ways I tried to protect myself. Step 7 helped me realise that I don’t have to be that person forever.
The Hardest Part: Letting Go
Letting go isn’t easy. Sometimes I catch myself still wanting to control everything — outcomes, people, even how others see me. But working Step 7 has shown me that growth only happens when I loosen my grip. I don’t have to know exactly how to change, but I can be willing to let something better take its place.
For me, that “something better” is learning to trust again — trust my therapist, trust the process, and maybe even trust a Higher Power. I still wrestle with what I believe spiritually, but I do believe in the healing I’ve seen around me — in others and myself.
Addiction care isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. And for me, Step 7 is where that progress truly began.
Moving Forward
Step 7 didn’t change me overnight. But it planted a seed. It taught me that I don’t have to carry all my old ways just because they’re familiar. I can hand them over — slowly, honestly — and make room for something new.
I know I still have work to do. But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m not doing it alone.
“Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. It means giving yourself a chance to grow.”
— A fellow patient in treatment who’s been through this longer than I have
If you’re reading this and struggling with Step 7, you’re not alone. Just start by being willing. The rest comes with time — and help.
If you or someone you love is ready to take that first step, our professional addiction care programme was built to support long-term healing. Reach out for help today.