12 Steps to Recovery: The Fourth Step

This article summarizes the fourth step of the 12 Steps to Recovery. Please refer to the Wimberley United Methodist Church website for a summary of steps 1, 2, and 3. Remember that these twelve steps, and especially this fourth step, are intended to be worked with a sponsor or counselor to keep the emphasis on working the steps one at a time, and to have essential support when faced with doubts and difficulties. “The Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous lists the fourth step from the original Twelve Steps as “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”

This fourth step moral inventory is taken through a process of searching ourselves to discover those attitudes and actions that have previously caused us to fail in our attempts to live in sobriety, in clarity, unafraid of what we see in ourselves and of what we confront in our daily lives. In this fourth step we have to courageously, unflinchingly examine the attitudes and actions that have come to define us, and to identify those thoughts, fears, and beliefs that cause us to behave in self-defeating ways. When we are able to objectively observe those inner motivations that cause us to fail ourselves, to fail those we love, and to continually “miss the mark” in our lives, we can take steps to move toward eliminating those behavior patterns. We can begin to nurture more positive ways of approaching life. We can begin to act in ways that benefit us and all of those around us. We can begin to move toward a Life of Purpose.

This fourth step traditionally requires us to make a written list of the factors that have handicapped us in living our best in regard to our: 1. Resentments, 2 Fears, 3. Sexual conduct, and 4. Harm to others. In thoughtfully preparing this list, we begin to examine our failings and begin to see the pattern of “triggers” that have led to our self defeating behaviors. We realize we cannot go back in time and re-do what we have done, but hopefully we can un-do some of the negative effects our actions have had on those we love.

This fourth step is a difficult one. The assistance of a strong, reliable support group, counselor, or minister is advisable in working all the steps but especially this one.

This summary was written by the Faith Partners group of Wimberley United Methodist Church. It is part of a continuing series of articles on each of the twelve steps.