Step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous: Prayer, Meditation and Free Step 11 Worksheet

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Download a Free Step 11 Worksheet

Get a free and printable Step 11 AA Worksheet designed to guide your morning intentions and nightly reflections during this Step. Use it daily to strengthen your prayer, meditation, and conscious connection with your Higher Power.

What Is Step 11 of AA?

“(We) 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 of Alcoholics Anonymous is the practice of seeking to improve conscious contact with your Higher Power through prayer and meditation, asking for guidance and strength.

Step 11 in AA builds on the principles of Steps 2 and 3 by urging commitment to a deeper and more active daily relationship with one’s Higher Power, a concept that was first acknowledged in Step 2, and then accepted in Step 3.

It builds on Step 10 by making this step’s practice of taking an honest, personal inventory and immediately correcting wrongs an ongoing daily practice. The 11th Step in AA has a dual focus of asking (praying) for guidance and then listening (via meditation) for that guidance and direction.

The Spiritual Principle of Step 11

The spiritual axiom “self-examination, meditation, and prayer create an unshakeable foundation,” found in AA’s book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, suggests that having spiritual connection and guidance leads not only to recovery from addiction, but to living life at its fullest potential.

Creating a conscious connection to “a Power greater than ourselves” provides a way to obtain humility, honesty, and acceptance, the foundations of a stable, fulfilling, and purposeful life.

AA’s Definition of Spiritual Connection

AA literature describes a “spiritual connection” as a relationship with a Higher Power that does not have to be tied to religion. It involves personal beliefs about the availability of a transcendent force that can provide guidance and a moral compass to aid one in the journey to recovery and beyond.

Step 11 Prayer and Meditation Practices

Prayer and meditation practices are encouraged when you follow AA’s 12-Steps to help connect with your spiritual natures. Self-reflection and calmness of mind improve access to inner guidance and moral clarity.

The 11th Step Prayer

AA’s “11th Step Prayer”, or “Set Aside Prayer,” is a spiritual request for an open mind, asking God to set aside or remove all preconceived beliefs, assumptions, and prejudices that may be blocking new and relevant spiritual understanding.

There are alternative versions of the 11th Step Prayer. One version states:

“God, today help me set aside everything I think I know about You, everything I think I know about myself, everything I think I know about others, and everything I think I know about my own recovery so I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me see the truth.”

In AA philosophy, this or other prayers can alternately be perceived as affirmations or meditative reflections. No religious affiliation is required.

11th Step Meditation

Meditation complements prayer by facilitating mental calm, stillness, awareness, and a listening opportunity. Prayer is often viewed as an outward communication process with one’s Higher Power, asking for assistance or guidance.

Meditation evokes more of an open-ended, expectant mental state, which is necessary for receiving the requested guidance.

A calm, inner-focused, meditative mental state can be achieved using:

Steady, focused attention on the breath
Mentally repeating a mantra, or a word or phrase such as “calm” or “peace”
Guided meditation, involving listening to a spoken or recorded relaxation script
Sitting in silence

Beginner’s 5-Minute 11th Step Meditation Guide

Follow these steps when you wake in the morning and when you prepare for sleep at night to improve contact with your Higher Power. This aligns you with its higher will, rather than with the will of your personal ego.

Pause. Relax and let go of thoughts.
Focus on your heart; try to feel the presence of your Higher Power.
Ask and listen for guidance from your Higher Power.

Practical Ways to Practice Step 11 Daily

Step 11 encourages ongoing spiritual growth through prayer and meditation, helping you align your thoughts and actions with a Higher Power.

By weaving simple, mindful practices into your daily routine, you can strengthen this connection and find greater peace and guidance.

Use AA daily prayer and/or meditation routines.
When stressed, do mental check-ins or “spot-check meditations:” briefly pause to become aware of physical, mental, and emotional sensations, noticing them without judging. (This calms the mind and reduces reactiveness to stressors.)
Journal and write down personal, spiritual reflections.
Find flow, or intense focus and peaceful mental absorption, during quiet activities such as walking, art, or yoga.

Step 11 Worksheets & Tools

This Step 11 Worksheet provides guidelines for morning and evening reflection and meditation practice, as well as journaling prompts. Download your Step 11 Worksheet today!

Morning intentions focus on:

Feeling gratitude
Seeking alignment with a Higher Power
Intending to experience humility and openness to guidance

Evening reflections focus on:

Self-examination – Was I aligned with my Higher Power today?
Where did my ego take over?
Spiritual awareness–Where did I feel most connected today?
Where did I resist or ignore guidance?

Journaling Prompts–Step 11 Questions:

Did I seek guidance from my Higher Power today?
Did I pause for meditation when disturbed?
Was I willing to accept God’s will, not mine?

Benefits of Practicing Step 11

Practicing AA Step 11 spiritual principles accelerates your spiritual growth and leads to a greater sense of purpose. It also helps you gain:

Emotional balance and serenity
A stronger spiritual foundation for recovery
Better decision-making and humility
Connection to a Higher Power beyond ego

Step 11 in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Al-Anon

Step 11 in NA and Step 11 in Al-Anon share a common message with AA’s Step 11–humbly connecting to a Higher Power through prayer and meditation and asking for guidance to follow the will of the Higher Power.

The application of Step 11 in each group reflects their differences:

AA focuses on recovery from addiction to alcohol
NA focuses on recovery from addiction to drugs
Al-Anon focuses on getting guidance for dealing with the addiction of someone else

Myths and Misconceptions About Step 11

AA spirituality is most intensely addressed in Step 11. Step 11 is both flexible and inclusive.

But myths and misconceptions about the concept of a Higher Power and the need for meditation and prayer can sometimes deter people from fully embracing the suggestions in Step 11.

Common Step 11 Myths

Myth 1: Step 11 Requires Religious Belief

Contrary to this misconception, Step 11 does not promote or require a specific religious belief or affiliation.

AA speaks of “God as we understood him,” which means that any interpretation of a Higher Power, such as cosmic consciousness, another spiritual force, or even the AA fellowship itself can be a Higher Power for an individual, providing them with insight and supportive guidance.

Myth 2: Meditation Must Be Perfect Or Lengthy

Even short meditation experiences (like the 5 Minute Step 11 Meditation) can be productive and perfection is never the point. The most important thing is to regularly have quiet time or reflective introspection. This trains your mind to relax and restore balance, and it reinforces the communication link between your ego and your Higher Power.

Myth 3: Prayer Means Asking for Outcomes

Prayer, when used as intended in AA’s Step 11, does not ask for a predetermined outcome. Instead, it asks for whatever one’s Higher Power, in its higher wisdom and benevolence, chooses to deliver. Prayer can also be used to express gratitude or to deepen your connection with your Higher Power.

What Comes After Step 11?

Step 11 is sometimes called a “living step,” meaning that it involves ongoing work, and the Step is never really completed. It leads into and supports Step 12, the final step in AA’s 12 Step program.

Step 12 overview

Continue practicing AA principles in daily life to sustain your recovery.
Carry the message of AA to other alcoholics and share your personal recovery experiences.
Be of service to others by offering support and encouragement, sponsoring newcomers, volunteering at meetings, etc.

Step 11 prepares individuals for Step 12, which involves a change of focus from the inward-looking perspective needed to heal from addiction to an outward-looking focus of sharing and helping others.

This change comes from gaining a conscious connection with a Higher Power, and it is strengthened in Step 11 through the daily practice of prayer and meditation.

Step 11 cultivates humility, inner peace, and emotional resilience, and a stronger and more reliable connection with one’s Higher Power. These things are catalysts for a “spiritual awakening,” as it is described in Step 12.

The AA book, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions offers more insights into the Steps and the process of an emerging spiritual awakening.

Start practicing Step 11 today. Our Step 11 AA Worksheet makes it easy to stay consistent. Track your daily prayer, meditation, and reflections in one place — a simple tool to keep your recovery strong.

Frequently Asked Questions About Step 11

What Does Step 11 Mean in AA?

It means using prayer and meditation to deepen one’s connection with their Higher Power.

What is the 11th Step Prayer?

It is a prayer asking for one’s mind to be opened, and for preconceived beliefs, assumptions, and prejudices to be removed, so that new spiritual understanding can emerge.

What is 11th Step Meditation?

It is a spiritual practice involving quiet, heart-focused attention while seeking messages of guidance from one’s Higher Power.

How Do You Do Step 11 in AA?

-Make some form of prayer and meditation a daily practice.
-Make brief inner reflection a part of your decision-making process.
-Journal, reflecting on spiritual insights and how you can be of service to others.

What is the spiritual connection in AA?

This spiritual connection involves accessing a “Higher Power,” something that is greater than your own mind and ego that gives you peace, resilience and a sense of purpose.

It involves a personal interpretation and can be experienced as God, universal energy or the caring and supportive energy supplied by fellow AA members.

What is Step 11 in the Big Book, and AA 12 & 12?

“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.”

This Step emphasizes the role of daily spiritual practices in creating a foundation for maintaining sobriety, enriching one’s life, and helping others.

Explore All 12 Steps

For a full view of the AA program, explore each step below:

Step 1 of AA: Powerlessness – admitting alcohol has control
Step 2: Higher Power – finding belief in restoration
Step 3: Surrender – turning will over to a Higher Power
Step 4: Moral Inventory – fearless self-examination
Step 5: Admitting Wrongs – honesty with self and others
Step 6: Readiness – becoming ready for change
Step 7: Humility – asking for shortcomings to be removed
Step 8: List of Amends – preparing to repair relationships
Step 9: Making Amends – direct action to repair harm
Step 10: Daily Inventory – how to take a daily inventory
Step 12: Service – carrying the message to others

Find Support Beyond Step 11

Working Step 11 is part of a larger recovery journey, and support doesn’t stop here. You can use the AA meeting directory to find local or online groups that provide connection and accountability.

If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol dependence, consider exploring detox and rehab options for safe, professional care.

To continue building a strong foundation, revisit AA Step 10: Ongoing Inventory for daily self-reflection, and look ahead to AA Step 12: Carrying the Message to share recovery with others and sustain long-term sobriety.

Ready to progress on your journey?

Download the Step 11 Worksheet and start your recovery journey today.

By Rita Milios

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Sylvie Stacy

Rita Milios is a recently retired psychotherapist, seminar leader for clinicians, and a freelance writer (recovery, mental health, spiritual growth). Her addiction recovery work includes consulting as a Substance Abuse Professional for the DOT. She has authored over 100 recovery articles and recently completed an addiction recovery book and workbook.

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Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, Medical Officer at Rehab.com, is a board-certified addiction medicine specialist with over a decade of experience treating individuals with addictions in diverse clinical settings including residential treatment programs, detox centers, outpatient clinics, and correctional facilities.

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