Practising 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
Step 11 is a daily practice. Not a concept to understand — a discipline to build. Morning, midday, and evening. The Big Book lays out a specific routine, and these three guided meditations follow that structure.
Morning Meditation
Start the day by asking for direction rather than charging ahead on self-will.
“On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 86
Daytime Meditation
When agitation, doubt, or indecision arise during the day, pause and reconnect.
“As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day ‘Thy will be done.’” — Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 87–88
Evening Meditation
A review of the day — not to punish, but to see clearly and prepare for tomorrow.
“When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we have done better?” — Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 86
What the Big Book Says About Step 11
“We alcoholics are undisciplined. So we let God discipline us in the simple way we have just outlined. But this is not all. There is action and more action. ‘Faith without works is dead.’” — Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 88
“Step Eleven suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn’t be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 96
“The actual experience of meditation and prayer across the centuries is… evidence enough to convince us that these practices are valid, even though we cannot understand or define them.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 97
For speaker talks on Step 11, see the Step 11 page.