When you are battling alcohol addiction, know that you're not alone. Some 18 million people in the United States suffer from alcohol addiction. 

The 7th step prayer, which is part of the Alcoholics Anonymous twelve step program, helps to strengthen hope and faith on the road to recovery.

If you want to get the most out of your recovery process, you'll need to focus on this step and prayer intently.

In this article, we'll discuss this prayer, how integral it is to recovery and how you can apply it to your life. 

Let's take a look below at the meaning of the prayer and how you can use it effectively in your addiction recovery process. 

Commit the 7th Step Prayer to Memory

Before you run out and start going through the 7th step prayer, you'll need to learn exactly what it says. This prayer revolves around asking for forgiveness for shortcomings.

It asks the Creator to get rid of any flaws that are keeping you from living the highest version of yourself. 

This 7th step prayer is deeply rooted in self-acceptance and humility, which are cornerstones of the recovery process. 

Use the Prayer Every Day, in Good Times and Bad

Consistency is the key to working the prayer to the benefit of your life. 

No matter your spiritual beliefs or affiliation, prayer is powerful from a scientific point of view. According to neurotheology, prayer literally changes your brain. 

You'll be able to use prayer to build your belief and willpower, which can change the circumstances of your physical reality. 

Because this prayer is so important, you'll need to make it an everyday part of your life. As with anything, repetition is crucial for making a change. Use this prayer when you wake up, before you go to sleep and during difficult times in your day. 

Apply the Prayer on a Personal Level

If you are planning to commit this 7th step prayer to memory and use it, make sure that it means something to you. 

It's one thing to recite the words, and another entirely to internalize it. 

When saying the prayer, try to invoke the feeling of what you're saying. Think about your joys and triumphs, contrasted by despair and failure. This way, when you say the prayer, you'll add emotion to it that can build your faith. 

Consider creating a vision board with all of your hopes and dreams. 

This way, you'll always remember your higher purpose and what you are trying to attain. Remember the rock bottom moments and tough times and use the prayer as a means to transcend those hard times. 

Understand the Importance of Humility

There's strength in humility. 

This very human character trait is often portrayed as a virtue of "niceness", rather than true strength. 

True humility involves quieting your ego and recognizing you're flawed. When you recognize your flaws, they're put in their place, as opposed to internalized through shame. 

The 7th step prayer focuses on humility, allowing you to recognize and acknowledge your weaknesses. Only then can you accept help. 

Humility lets you develop an accountability circle, celebrate your sobriety goals and get the support system that you need. 

Make it All About Your Work

Saying the 7th step prayer is an act of faith. A verse in the bible asserts that the works keep faith alive. 

In addition to reciting and memorizing the prayer, apply it to your goals. For instance, if you've always wanted to start a business, make sure that you're stepping out on faith to do so. 

Saying this prayer regularly will keep you in the proper frame of mind, which can then power you toward your goals. 

Continuously Develop Your Spiritual Footing

Make sure that your spiritual walk doesn't end with this prayer. 

There's value available in religious and spiritual systems -- no matter which you subscribe to. Read through spiritual texts in order to get some grounding in your life that can be helpful. 

The more you exercise your faith, the more conviction you'll have with the prayer itself. Whether strengthening your faith means reading spiritual texts, attending church services or finding gurus, you'll want to take this seriously. 

The healing from something deep as substance abuse won't happen overnight and requires your full focus and effort. 

Stay Involved in Your Groups and Meetings

Take your accountability groups, counseling and meetings seriously. 

Initial treatment is crucial, but your chances of success depend on how much work you put in with these constants. Rather than just assuming you've learned from mistakes, you'll need to both receive help and provide support. 

In these meetings, you'll typically have a sponsor and will receive a chip or other commemoration as you stay sober. Sharing with others recovering will make you continuously find new meaning and context to the 7th step prayer. 

Add Meditation To Your Lifestyle

Meditation will be useful to you no matter what sort of life you lead. 

For best results, make sure to meditate every single day. By meditating regularly, you'll be better able to stay in the moment and will change your brain networks. 

Perhaps most importantly, meditation will help you to quiet the part of your mind that is involved strictly in your survival. This impulse is only concerned with moments of the past and future but takes you out of the moment. 

The more that you meditate, the easier it will be to override your impulses and simply make clear decisions. 

By coupling the 7th step prayer with regular meditation, you'll find that you're less carried away with stress and better able to deal with the feelings that naturally arise inside of you. 

Since addiction is a mental and emotional issue, meditation and prayer are incredibly impactful.

The 7th Step Prayer Gives Hope

Applying the 7th step prayer helps you to find some grounding, so you can make the most out of your future. 

When you're sober, you'll have more clarity of mind, can get into better shape and enjoy impeccable physical health. 

Consider these tips so that you can employ the prayer in your recovery. 

Need a daily reminder? Our affirmation tokens, rings, and key chains will help remind remember your mission. Place your order today.

Relapse.

For those struggling with addiction, an alcohol relapse is an unfortunate part of the journey. But it happens. Probably a lot more than you think.

How you choose to handle an alcohol relapse can have two different outcomes:

1. It can set the stage for continued, and possibly better, recovery;
2. It can spiral into complete, life-controlling addiction once again.

If you, or someone you care about, has suffered from a relapse, don't walk around believing it's the end of the world. It is possible to master sober living....

Quotations are usually popular on the internet because they reinforce the way we already feel about something or our view of the world.

But addiction recovery quotes mean much more to the recovering alcoholic.

40 - 60% of all recovering alcoholics will relapse at some point, studies show. Two-thirds of those will do so within the first year. After five years even 7% will relapse...

If you've got or are on the cusp of earning your 365-day token, congratulations! 

Hitting the one year sober milestone is something to be proud of. The first twelve months of sobriety can be very difficult, but what should you expect in the aftermath?

Well, for one, your odds of staying sober improve dramatically. An eight-year study showed that less than half of those who achieved a year of sobriety relapsed. That number continued to tumble as time went on...

As the spring turns to summer, social events begin to take precedence in our lives.

We'll get to cherish time with loved ones and friends while creating brand new memories.

But for many in recovery, social events are synonymous with stress. But being sober doesn't need to be equated with being a shut-in. In fact, going out and being social can be beneficial to your mental well-being!

The claws of addiction dig deep.

No matter what your drug of choice is, your brain has undergone changes due to substance use and abuse.

As a result, you try to fight addiction only to come full circle to the same point (or worse) you were in before.

But if only abstaining was enough to set yourself on the path to healing. If that were the case, treatment centers would be empty and meetings would become unnecessary.

Earning an Alcoholics Anonymous chip is no easy feat. It may seem like mile markers to those who are not in the program. It may seem laughable to take it everywhere with you. 

Yet, this all comes down to you.

Many alcoholics and drug addicts you have stopped using multiple times. In fact, some of us quit every day. 

Only to start again the next morning. 

Too many people confuse recovery from drug and alcohol addiction as a plan to stop drinking and doing drugs. 

In fact, it is much different than stopping. 

And one of the essential parts of recovery is a relapse prevention plan. 

Creating a relapse prevention plan is like constructing a safety net for your sobriety. In the best of circumstances, you don't ever need a safety net. 

But if you ever do get in a life-threatening situation, you'll be glad it's there. 

Addiction is a misunderstood ailment that is often handled poorly.

Even those who have been sober for years can have cravings from time to time. 

That's why the AA prayer can be extremely comforting. 

Repeating a motivational phrase can do wonders for your recovery.

This is especially true when you are struggling to stave off cravings.

Prayer may seem like a shallow, trivial answer to a serious problem. 

A lot of people question whether it's possible or not to plan a date without drinks.

Today's dating world seems to revolve around a constant buzz, an obligatory drink that supposedly helps to ease nervous tension. The society has embraced drinks as a prerequisite for getting to know someone. 

But there are many benefits to living a sober lifestyle, which ultimately leads to a more rewarding dating experience.

So, Yes! Sober dating is possible, and it brings along a lot of benefits.

Before you think that your dating adventures will be over once you quit drinking, take your time to reflect on those 'epic' dates you had under the influence of alcohol. 

The hangovers, ridiculous battles with boyfriends, sharing of too much irrelevant information, and that awkward "Crap! What did I do last night."

So a goodbye to alcohol and all its attendant drama doesn't bid farewell to dating.

Instead, it opens up a door for you to meet the 'real guy' (albeit at the local coffee shop rather than at the next bar stool).

Sobriety is a wonderful experience, one that gives you a positive outlook on life. Read on to discover the life-changing lessons that you can learn from sober dating.

10 Things You Can Expect to Experience When Living Sober

What You Can Expect to Experience When Living Sober

Adopting a new sober lifestyle can be challenging at first. There are new challenges that you will face everyday. Learn the 10 things you can expect when living

Keyword(s): living sober

The road to living sober is a long journey, but it starts with a single step.

With the right support system and practice living one day at a time, you can enjoy a happier, healthier life filled with hope, love and positive relationships.

Here are 10 things you can expect to experience when living sober.

1. Living Sober Is Tough, But the Rewards Are Worth the Effort

Beginning your spiritual journey on the path to recovery is not simple.

It is a process that gets easier with time. You will fight your inner demons, resist temptation and experience discomfort along the way, especially during the beginning of your recovery.

Living sober is difficult, but its rewards offer hope, spiritual health and a happy life you can be proud of living.

2. Living Sober Requires Making Life Adjustments

Many people between the ages of 25 and 50 have established their lives. You might own a company, attend school, raise children, and have other daily responsibilities.

You might not want to take time away from your daily life to go to meetings and take care of yourself.

What’s important to realize is that it’s vital to take the time now you need to recover. It’s detrimental for both you and for your family.

Life can become worse. You can alienate your family.

It might not happen today or next week, but alcohol and drug disease hits hard and can ruin what you’ve worked so hard to create.

You've heard the stories of former addicts. Taking the time now for your own sobriety will pay you back tenfold.

3. Denial Is Your Worst Enemy—Nip It in the Bud

You might think you can have ‘just one’.

Perhaps you’ve tried it before and ended up in a bad place. Being in denial about your disease will only cause you more pain. Some people might try to make it harder for you.

Some of your partying friends or family might not understand and say, “What’s the big deal? One won’t hurt.”

Learning to say 'no' to drugs and alcohol can be tough and sometimes seem aggressive.

While most people who support you will understand, many who 'don’t get it' or don’t care won’t understand. 

Some people living sober say it helps to remove yourself from an environment where other people are using.

Be firm in your beliefs. It’s not important to win anyone’s approval, except your own.

4. Recovery Allows You to Enjoy Life

Some think living sober can be dull and boring, but they find out they’re wrong. 

For the first time, you can enjoy the hobbies and activities you used to love, but couldn’t do on drugs or alcohol, either because you couldn’t concentrate or stay awake.

You will also make great friends from your 12 step meetings. They are people who understand your struggle who you can laugh with.

Now you can go hiking, swim laps, surf, and do healthy activities that invigorate you, and have some good company to join you.

5. A Good Attitude Is Key to Living Sober

It’s not always easy to have a good attitude, even for people who aren’t going through recovery.

It takes reprogramming those old tapes and messages in your head that could be critical and negative. One thing that can help you feel more positive is to surround yourself with other positive people.

Another way to flip your attitude from bad to good is to write a gratitude list. Write a list of all the things you are grateful for. Include the people, places and things in your life that add value.

Many people experience a shift in their attitudes when they write this list. Journaling is another way to change our attitudes. It lets us release anxieties and stresses that we keep hidden in our bodies.

6. Asking for Help Is a Sign of Strength

When you’re living sober, you are never alone. You will always have a good support system to listen and guide you along the path of your recovery. Many people you meet in meetings experiencing the same feelings that you experience. By sharing in meetings you will help others and others will help you.

Many people you meet in meetings experiencing the same feelings that you experience. By sharing in meetings you will help others and others will help you.

Finding a sponsor in your 12-step program is a great way to reach out for help. Asking for help on your path to living sober is never a sign of weakness. It’s always a sign of strength.

7. Showing Up To Meetings Are Vital To Your Recovery

There will be times when you want to skip a meeting because you don’t feel like going.

Other times you might want to go to the movies and to a restaurant with friends or family instead.

Skipping meetings is dangerous. It’s similar to the ‘just one’ mindset. You can always go to the movies or out to eat before or after a meeting or partake in fellowship afterward.

Be aware of these inner demons that will try to take you away from your strength, hope, and recovery program.

They can be subtle and unrecognizable. Always remember, that showing up is half the battle won, and you'll be closer to being awarded your 24-hour chip or 90-day token!

8. Living Sober Improves Relationships

Before sobriety, there is a lot of shaming and blaming in relationships.

As an addict, your main relationship is the one you have with your drug of choice, whether it is alcohol or drugs.

Everything else comes second. As you work your program, you become more aware of the role you play in your current and past relationships, and you learn the truth about yourself.

You also begin to take responsibility for your actions and begin to build intimacy. This self-reflection makes relationships better. 

9. A Healthy Diet Helps Recovery

Eating a good diet will help your physical and emotional well-being. Look for foods that are high in Omega 3, magnesium and folate.

Some of these foods include leafy green vegetables, nuts, berries, spinach, salmon, and asparagus.

10. Forgive Yourself for Your Past Mistakes

During recovery, you begin to see how you’ve treated others in the past. This can cause guilt and bad feelings.

It’s important to forgive yourself for the poor choices you’ve made in the past and the actions you’ve taken and to move forward.

Forgiveness is a significant step in the healing process living sober.

"Keep coming back. It works if you work it."

Visit our blog for more stories of strength and hope or to buy low-cost tokens and medallions.

There's a stigma within our society that wants us to "man up". To grit our teeth and plow through the problems without addressing the real issues. To show face when we're at our darkest moments because "that's what you're supposed to do".

Forget all that.

Marking the anonymous membership of so many people around the world is a humble coin. The AA Token, unassuming to most, is a most significant keepsake for the recipient. Beginning one's sober journey in the fellowship of Alcoholics is anonymous with a silver colored aluminum 24 Hour Token is a tremendous way to mark the first day of this one day at a time way of life. The twenty-four hour token is often carried for a lifetime, standing as a silent reminder of our AA way of life.

The Alcoholics Anonymous  24 Hour Chip stands as a silent reminder of the beginning of a journey. Designated as the humble memento with which a newly sober member of the fellow ship of AA is to mark the beginning of their sober life. Often called a "surrender chip", the 24 hour token comes in a variety of styles. Perhaps the most familiar of these is pictured here, an aluminum coin approximately 1 inch in diameter. Also common in some AA groups is a white poker chip or desire chip. These white poker chips sometimes feature the initials AA stamped in the center and may also feature the group's name on the reverse side of the chip.

The 6 Month AA Token

The 9 Month AA Token