“The Main Ingredient” that “Encourages Us To Grow” – Step 7

Diagram of Humility and Confidence on a balance beam w/ sfz title

“We couldn’t handle
the ordeal of life by our
selves. It wasn’t until we
made a mess of our lives
that we realized we couldn’t
do it alone. By admitting
this, we achieved a glim
pse of humility. This is
the main ingredient of
Step Seven.” (The
Basic Text, p. 36)

~~~

 – Sign up to Zonr for Today’s Full SFZ

How would you describe the “main ingredient” of your own spiritual growth, nowadays?

OR

Why does asking for help sometimes make people stronger instead of weaker?

~~~

Believe – Cher (3:53)

Deep Experiential Meditation (5:44)

English Analysis

Today’s Zonr post explores humility, community, and personal growth. They suggest growth begins when one admits imperfection and seeks help.

In Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, humility grows when people share defects and accept change. This echoes Søren Kierkegaard, who stressed self-examination and honesty as pathways to authenticity. Kierkegaard believed truth emerges through confrontation with the self.

The Basic Text highlights the need for surrender. It shows that pride collapses when struggles overwhelm the individual. This aligns with Reinhold Niebuhr, whose The Serenity Prayer asks for wisdom in facing limits. Niebuhr saw humility as a bridge between human weakness and divine strength.

Cher’s words add a modern voice. She trusts friendship to spark growth and reflection. Aristotle also praised friendship in Nicomachean Ethics. He argued true friends reveal blind spots and encourage virtue. Together, these voices show humility requires both inward honesty and outward connection.

Therefore, humility is not weakness but strength. It invites growth through courage, honesty, and community. It transforms struggle into meaning and pride into belonging.


Traducción al Español

Citas

“… cuando hemos
mirado de frente algunos
de estos defectos, los hemos
discutido con otro, y
hemos estado dispuestos
a que se eliminen, nuestro
pensamiento sobre la humildad
comienza a tener
un significado más amplio.”
(12 & 12, p. 74)

“No pudimos enfrentar
la prueba de la vida
por nosotros mismos. No fue
hasta que arruinamos
nuestras vidas que nos dimos cuenta
de que no podíamos hacerlo solos. Al
admitir esto, logramos
un destello de humildad.
Este es el ingrediente principal
del Séptimo Paso.”
(El Texto Básico, p. 36)

“Yo puedo
confiar en mis
amigos. Estas
personas me obligan
a examinarme, me
animan a crecer.”
—Cher (1946– ) cantante / actriz estadounidense


Análisis

Los pasajes exploran la humildad, la comunidad y el crecimiento personal. Sostienen que el crecimiento comienza cuando uno admite imperfección y busca ayuda.

En Doce Pasos y Doce Tradiciones, la humildad crece cuando las personas comparten defectos y aceptan el cambio. Esto recuerda a Søren Kierkegaard, quien subrayó el autoexamen y la honestidad como caminos hacia la autenticidad. Kierkegaard creía que la verdad surge al confrontarse con uno mismo.

El Texto Básico resalta la necesidad de rendirse. Muestra que el orgullo se derrumba cuando los problemas sobrepasan al individuo. Esto coincide con Reinhold Niebuhr, cuyo La Oración de la Serenidad pide sabiduría para enfrentar límites. Niebuhr vio la humildad como un puente entre la debilidad humana y la fuerza divina.

Las palabras de Cher añaden una voz moderna. Ella confía en la amistad para inspirar crecimiento y reflexión. Aristóteles también elogió la amistad en Ética a Nicómaco. Argumentó que los verdaderos amigos revelan puntos ciegos y alientan la virtud. Juntos, estos pensamientos muestran que la humildad requiere honestidad interior y conexión exterior.

Por lo tanto, la humildad no es debilidad sino fortaleza. Invita al crecimiento mediante el valor, la honestidad y la comunidad. Transforma la lucha en sentido y el orgullo en pertenencia.

Pregunta: ¿Por qué pedir ayuda a veces hace a las personas más fuertes en lugar de más débiles?

Zonr logo on humility

Comments

7 responses to ““The Main Ingredient” that “Encourages Us To Grow” – Step 7”

  1. Ari L Avatar
    Ari L

    Disconnecting technology and stimulation and just taking in the world, whenever I do it, has been a huge way for me to connect and grow. To just stop trying to fill my time and attention and allow it to be a vast space. In moments like that I feel like the massive vessel that I am, and need to do it more often.

  2. Neyun Uzdlabayoh Avatar
    Neyun Uzdlabayoh

    Asking for help makes me stronger because i now have the support system of friends, peers and mentors who may have the experience, or perhaps be on a similar path, share their journey with me and also we encourage each other . It creates a support system on my path of sobriety and health, and wellness . My path to becoming best self, and most spiritually connected self . Community is so crucial and feeling supported and loved is so important ~

  3. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

    I think my own spiritual growth is gettin’ stronger while I’ll have to admit that at times I see others bein’ spiritually led astray. There’s a great meetin’ with S.H.A.R.E. that I want to attend that mentions “get out of stuck” in its’ title. It’s like I’m usin’ spirituality to recover while I see other people just delineate from a sound spiritual path left and right. My new associations simply can’t include people fakin’ spirituality plus their recovery or wants of abstinence from harmful substances. Feelin’ my life with study and sane sound spirituality helps me (moi) to shun these people away as much as possible. Spirituality has so much growth, protection, betterment, physical being, and sanity to offer, so how’s it not somethin’ to be taken seriously?

  4. Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱 Avatar
    Eli🌱🫶🏾🫡🪱

    Action, and not just willingness, to help people wherever they’re at. Thats been the main ingredient’ for me. Saying I’ll help is effortless, but taking the time to go out of my way is what actually makes a satisfying difference. I can think of multiple incidents where I could have ignored other’s distress. But I didn’t. It’s different than what I would do while I was drinking, and it’s a good-feeling change.

  5. E-Dawg Avatar
    E-Dawg

    For me God is the main ingredient. Then comes all the spices, like surrender, humility, courage, patience and willingness… once it’s all baked in the oven I’ve got a pretty good loaf of recovery….
    Taking small bites throughout the day keeps me clean and Serene and coming back for more…

    1. Elexi W.S.A. Avatar

      Serenity is so key right, especially in these times.

  6. Sabrina J Avatar
    Sabrina J

    The art of learning to be vulnerable is the art of being strong. I take great fascination that most philosophical idioms are counter intuitive. To be strong, we must be weak, to be wise we must humble ourselves to be vulnerable is courageous and strong.

    Every time I have been courageous to be vulnerable the best outcomes occur and I find myself in a better position of growth.

    Thank you for sharing recovery with me. Grateful.

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