Fourth Step Workshop

What is a 4th Step Inventory?

A 4th Step inventory is a detailed and honest written account of your past. The step itself is to “Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Think of it like a business taking stock of its products. To stay healthy, a business must know exactly what it has on its shelves, what’s selling, and what’s old and spoiled. The inventory isn’t to make the business feel bad, but to clear out what’s not working to make room for new, better things.

In the same way, a personal 4th Step inventory is the process of looking at three key areas of your life to see what’s been running the show:

1. Resentments: You list the people, institutions, and principles that you’re angry at. You write down what happened and, most importantly, you identify your part in the situation.
2. Fears: You write down your specific fears and examine how they have controlled your decisions and actions.
3. Harms to others: This often involves looking at relationships (including sexual conduct) where your actions caused harm to others.

The goal isn’t to judge yourself or wallow in guilt. It’s about seeing the truth of your past with honesty and identifying the exact nature of the patterns that have been causing you and others pain.

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Why is a 4th Step Inventory So Important?

Doing a thorough 4th Step is a cornerstone of recovery and is vital for long-term change. Here’s why:

• It Uncovers the Root Cause: The inventory helps you see that the problem isn’t just the substance or behavior (like drinking or overeating); it’s the underlying spiritual “maladies” of resentment and fear. These are often the true drivers of addiction, and the inventory shines a bright light on them.
• Identifies Self-Defeating Patterns: By writing everything down, you begin to see clear, repeating patterns in your behavior. Seeing these patterns is the first step toward changing them. You can’t fix a problem you can’t see.
• Provide Freedom from the Past: Secrets and resentments hold immense power when they’re kept in the dark. Writing them down and looking at them objectively is the first step in letting them go. It stops the past from secretly controlling your present.
• It’s the Foundation for Healing: The Fourth Step provides the essential information needed for the next crucial Steps. You use this inventory in Step 5 (admitting your wrongs to another person), Step 6 (becoming willing to have defects removed), and Step 7 (asking your Higher Power to remove them). Without a thorough inventory, these healing steps are impossible to complete effectively.

Zoom Meeting ID: 458 139 6540
Passcode: step4