What Is Step 11 of AA?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Step 11?How Step 11 WorksHow to Complete Step 11Why It’s ImportantNext in AA 12 Step Program GuideA Study of Step 12 of the 12-Step Program

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Step 11?

How Step 11 Works

How to Complete Step 11

Why It’s Important

Next in AA 12 Step Program Guide

Step 11 of AA focuses on connecting with a spiritual source or higher power to help you carry out your recovery goals. For some people, this might mean forging a closer relationship with God, but it can also mean finding a meaning that is greater than the self. Your higher power might be a spiritual figure, but it can be anything that has significance and meaning to you.

Research has found that spirituality can serve as an important mechanism of change in 12-step programs.Other research has shown that believing in a higher power and feeling this higher power’s presence predicted more positive outcomes of AA participation.

At a GlanceStep 11 of AA can be an essential part of the recovery process and is about connecting with a higher power or source of spirituality. Having a meaningful spiritual practice can help people connect with something greater than themselves. This can be a source of strength and a reminder of why sticking to the 12 steps is so important for staying drug and alcohol-free. Explore some of the things you can do to tackle this step of your recovery.

At a Glance

Step 11 of AA can be an essential part of the recovery process and is about connecting with a higher power or source of spirituality. Having a meaningful spiritual practice can help people connect with something greater than themselves. This can be a source of strength and a reminder of why sticking to the 12 steps is so important for staying drug and alcohol-free. Explore some of the things you can do to tackle this step of your recovery.

According to Alcoholic Anonymous:

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."

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.”

Alcoholics Anonymous states as an organization, it is non-religious but rather spiritual in design. Its cornerstone is that members find a higher purpose or higher power. God can be described as a religious being, or for atheists and agnostics, it can simply mean the group dynamic experienced as a member at an AA meeting.

Alcoholics Anonymous' (AA)12-step programas described in the “The Big Book,” AA’s guide for peoplerecoveringfromalcoholism, has many references to God and religious themes, and step 11 is no exception.

In a nutshell, step 11 calls for discovering the plan your higher power has for your life, and to find the power to carry it out.

The 12 Steps Defined

According to Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 steps are as follows:

Recognizing how step 11 fits in with the other 12 steps of recovery can help you look for ways to use your spiritual practice to support your goals for staying alcohol-free.

For many in recovery, whether it is Alcoholics Anonymous orAl-Anon Family Groups, the concept of spirituality can be unfamiliar, lost, or rejected. Even for those who had an upbringing in a specific faith, you may find that your experience was more “religious” and prescriptive rather than spiritual.

The approaches and methods of prayer andmeditationsuggested in step 11 vary, but the purpose of the step is to connect with that higher power.

Many AA members say that through the steps, they discovered their higher power and formed a better understanding of that power.

Some prefer to call the higher power “God,” others avoid the word altogether. The point is for AA members to discover through participation in the program that there is a power greater than themselves, and they have seen that power at work.

There are a number of things that you can do to tackle step 11. Some ways you can do this:

Remember not to get caught up in your preconceptions of the word “God.” You get to decide what that word means to you and your life. Also, remember that prayer can take a wide variety of forms.

It may mean praying to your higher power for guidance, but it can also mean sitting quietly for some time each day topractice mindfulness.

Why Step 11 Is Important for Recovery

What if you are agnostic or atheist?

Step 11 helps guide members in moments of confusion or unbalance, teaching them to stop and ask themselves or their higher power for the right way to proceed. For many, this exercise is self-reflection; for others, it is asking God for guidance. The end result usually turns out the same.

RecapStep 11 is an important part of the recovery process because it encourages people to pause and reflect when they face challenges.

Recap

Step 11 is an important part of the recovery process because it encourages people to pause and reflect when they face challenges.

Non-Religious Alternatives to AA

Takeaway

Like every part of a 12-step program, step 11 requires commitment to the journey toward lasting recovery. Step 11 can help you develop a plan that will support you in staying on the path to recovery. It is also important preparation for step 12, which focuses on using what you have learned to be of service to others.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

A Study of Step 12 of the 12-Step Program

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tonigan JS, Rynes KN, McCrady BS.Spirituality as a change mechanism in 12-step programs: a replication, extension, and refinement.Subst Use Misuse. 2013;48(12):1161-1173. doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.808540Dermatis H, Galanter M.The role of twelve-step-related spirituality in addiction recovery.J Relig Health. 2016;55(2):510-521. doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0019-4Wilson B.The Big Book. 4th ed. A.A. World Services Inc; 2001.Alcoholic Anonymous.The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 1981.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tonigan JS, Rynes KN, McCrady BS.Spirituality as a change mechanism in 12-step programs: a replication, extension, and refinement.Subst Use Misuse. 2013;48(12):1161-1173. doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.808540Dermatis H, Galanter M.The role of twelve-step-related spirituality in addiction recovery.J Relig Health. 2016;55(2):510-521. doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0019-4Wilson B.The Big Book. 4th ed. A.A. World Services Inc; 2001.Alcoholic Anonymous.The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 1981.

Tonigan JS, Rynes KN, McCrady BS.Spirituality as a change mechanism in 12-step programs: a replication, extension, and refinement.Subst Use Misuse. 2013;48(12):1161-1173. doi:10.3109/10826084.2013.808540Dermatis H, Galanter M.The role of twelve-step-related spirituality in addiction recovery.J Relig Health. 2016;55(2):510-521. doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0019-4Wilson B.The Big Book. 4th ed. A.A. World Services Inc; 2001.Alcoholic Anonymous.The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 1981.

Dermatis H, Galanter M.The role of twelve-step-related spirituality in addiction recovery.J Relig Health. 2016;55(2):510-521. doi:10.1007/s10943-015-0019-4

Wilson B.The Big Book. 4th ed. A.A. World Services Inc; 2001.

Alcoholic Anonymous.The twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. 1981.

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At a Glance#

Step 11#

The 12 Steps Defined#

Why Step 11 Is Important for Recovery#

What if you are agnostic or atheist?#

Recap#

Takeaway#