As we settle into the warmth of July, our recovery pathway brings us to a transformative milestone on the heroic journey: Step Seven. Having faced our past and found the willingness to change, we are now asked to humbly seek the removal of our character shortcomings. For many, this threshold introduces a profound shift from merely stopping an addictive behavior to the lifelong work of character building. This month, we explore how true humility is not a requirement of submission, but rather a peaceful state of letting go—deflating the grandiose ego, abandoning the exhausting trap of perfectionism, and learning to accept our beautifully flawed human nature.
My hope is that these reflections help you realize that by embracing humility as something you truly want, you can quiet your inner dialogue, step around the roadblocks of rigid dogma, and experience a deeply serene path to living
Thus far on the heroic journey of recovery, our traveler has quit drinking, drugging, gambling, or whatever, surrendered his or her will and life to a higher power, agreed to try to live on a spiritual basis, taken a deep look at the past, shared this life story with another person, and decided to be willing to become a better person. Clearly, this doesn’t just mean giving up the addiction. That is only the starting point. Our hero has realized the necessity of character building.
There is much discussion in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) of humility as an essential personal characteristic required to become this better person. So, what is humility? There are many useful definitions readily available. I like the idea of humility as the state in which we no longer compare ourselves to others, nor do we judge the quality of ourselves or others as good or bad. The humble person no longer tries to control life, his or her own or anyone else’s. He or she has come to accept that there is a higher power, and he/she is not It. Humility requires the deflation at depth of the grandiose, ungrateful, and infantile ego.
Our hero on this journey must give up the ideal of perfection, for himself or for anyone else...
In the seventeenth century, a French Carmelite friar called Brother Lawrence lived a simple, prayerful life working in the kitchen and repairing sandals. He taught a philosophy of relating to God through simple, everyday actions. In 1692 his writings and thoughts were published in a pamphlet entitled Practicing the Presence of God. Using this phrase as an inspiration, I want to propose a spiritual practice
Practicing the presence of God is a big idea, but I suggest starting small. Brother Lawrence taught that one should keep up a simple dialogue with God throughout the day. He thought that by maintaining an awareness of God one could remain calm and experience both being loved by God and loving God in return. Of course, people who don’t believe in God or are unsure of how to relate to a divinity may find this to be a useless idea. But read on, for the method may work regardless of one’s spiritual orientation...
Many people who could benefit from the program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) fail to do so because they believe the program to be religious in nature. Such people do not believe in a Big Guy in the Sky type of God, or possibly not any type of god. It is irrelevant whether they classify themselves as atheists or agnostics. I believe it is important to attempt to reach such people and open the door wider for them to enter the rooms of AA. It does not help to present arguments favoring any religion, or arguments refuting atheism or agnosticism. In fact....
“A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted rather than as something we must have.” Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 75
“Our idea of God tells us more about ourselves than about God.” Thomas Merton
On the Bookshelf - The Twelve Steps for Agnostics by Andy F.
In the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, a recovery plan is proposed that is based on reliance on a higher power. God is mentioned over one hundred times, and statements such as “God has done for us what we could not do for ourselves” are found. For many people, the idea of God is either confusing, distasteful, or beyond comprehension. The program accommodates such people by using such language as “God as you understand Him.” For many, this is helpful, but for others, using such a God-based program is a struggle, often resulting in such people giving up on AA. Many books have been written to help people who do not believe in God stick around in AA until it works for them. Possibly the best of these is this book written by Andy F....
Our summer partnership with In The Rooms, the global recovery community website, continues throughout July! This month, my book "The Twelve Step Pathway – A Heroic Journey of Recovery" is being featured across their platform. This text reframes the twelve steps through the lens of Joseph Campbell's classic heroic archetypes, showing how any traveler can actively rescue their own story. I am thrilled to share these concepts with their 1.2 million members worldwide, and I invite you to explore the feature on their platform this month.
As the journey continues, I remain dedicated to sharing the "Heroic Journey" framework locally with recovery groups, clinical staff, and individuals. My workshops and speaking engagements are structured to help travelers navigate intimidating transitions, step past theological roadblocks, and discover a workable, deeply spiritual path forward.
Current Offerings:
Keynote Speaking: For recovery conferences and events.
Staff Training: For clinical teams on the Heroic Journey model.
Reflective Groups: Facilitated sessions for adults and adolescents in recovery.
If this month's reflections resonated with you, I invite you to share them with a fellow traveler today. The heroic journey is not meant to be walked alone, and by passing this along, you might offer exactly the right companionship to someone facing their own roadblocks.
Until next time, walk gently, with courage. — Mike
Dr. Michael Cowl Gordon, Black Magic Ln, Marietta, GA 30064
