May 15

Our Fourth Step asks us to do a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. The Faith and Strength we need to accomplish our Self-Appraisal is supplied by the God of Our Understanding. Looking at our past and the things we did in and after active addiction, causes us shame and guilt.

Although we are different people now and don't practice those behaviors anymore, some of us still feel haunted. There still could be some fear of reliving some of our experiences. Our Higher Power can help Guide our feelings, during this Process, if we let it.

The Courage we will receive will be after walking through the fear. Before beginning Step Four, we should review the first three Steps with our Sponsors. We can choose whatever setting we need to sit down and pick up the pen and write.

We Pray to our Higher Power for the Strength and Honesty we need to start our inventory of ourselves. We write about our fears, resentments and conduct. We also write about our Assets, many of them newly acquired since we've been clean.

We go as far back as we can remember with our writing. Everything that has affected our lives and the lives of others, is material for our inventory. We can Pray throughout the Process, we can call our Sponsors if we get stuck.

As we write, some of us felt the weight come off our shoulders. The shame and guilt seem to subside, and we began to feel better about what we're doing. The Fourth Step is one of the most Loving things we can do for ourselves.

It Frees us from the burdens of the past, and gives us Hope for the future. Our Fourth Step should be followed by a Fifth Step as soon as possible, in order to reap the maximum Benefits.