What Is The AA 4th Step?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The purpose of Step 4, “

made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

”, is to begin to determine the root cause of one's , identify any weaknesses that may have contributed to , and understand personal strengths that can help support the person with their self-discovery and recovery in …

What is a moral inventory of ourselves?

A moral inventory is

a written objective assessment of your life

, including character deficits, strengths and weaknesses, and an overarching look at the damage you've caused with your addiction.

What is a fourth step?

Each step addresses a different need that is common to many who struggle with alcoholism, and the fourth step involves

taking a personal inventory of strengths and weaknesses of character

. This step is a very intimate personal journey.

What is the 4th and 5th step in AA?

In the 4th step,

you admitted the nature of your wrongs through a moral inventory

. In the 5th step, you confess them to yourself, your higher power, and another person. For many, this other person is their AA sponsor or another AA participant.

How do you teach step 4 in AA?

  1. Don't hold back: You won't benefit from this step or AA if you don't own up to your shortcomings.
  2. Trust yourself and your sponsor: Remember: You are more than your mistakes.
  3. Be thorough and write down your inventory: This will be the first tangible evidence of your recovery.

What is the purpose of step 4?

The purpose of Step 4, “

made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

”, is to begin to determine the root cause of one's drinking, identify any weaknesses that may have contributed to alcoholism, and understand personal strengths that can help support the person with their self-discovery and recovery in …

What is the fourth step prayer?

Fourth Step Prayer


It is I who has made my life a mess. I have done it, but I cannot undo it.

I will begin a searching & fearless moral inventory.

What are some examples of character defects?

  • Anger and Hatred.
  • Selfishness and self-centeredness.
  • Being dishonest and lying regularly.
  • Defensiveness.
  • Constantly playing the victim.
  • Blaming self and others.
  • Antagonistic.
  • Close-mindedness.

How do I take inventory of my life?

  1. Be specific. Don't say you want to lose weight or travel. …
  2. Be realistic. Give yourself ample time to achieve your goals. …
  3. Be understanding. If you twist your ankle and are laid up for two weeks, cut yourself some slack. …
  4. Be accountable. …
  5. Be flexible. …
  6. Be positive.

What is the spiritual principle of step 4?

The Spiritual

Principle courage

lies behind A.A.'s Step Four: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Here we summon the courage to honestly look deep within. We take a look at how our behavior has become warped to justify our continued misbehavior.

What does Step 9 in AA mean?

What Is Step 9? Step 9 begins: “

Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others

.”

What should I do after 5th step?

The instructions in the Big Book suggest that after doing their 5th Step a person

goes home (or someplace quiet) and sits for an hour(ish)

and reviews the step work that they've done so far, to make certain they've been thorough and to check and be sure they haven't skipped anything or held anything back.

What are the 5th step promises?

The Fifth Step promises (p. 75)

tell us that we now begin to have a spiritual experience

. Well, the realization that God is soon-to-remove the very things that blocked me from seeing and acting on the truth-in- indeed speaks to a radical inner transformation!

What does Step 5 mean?

Step 5:

Admit to God, to ourselves

, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. What an order! Admitting wrongs to God and to ourselves is one thing. To actually tell someone else the exact nature of our wrongs can be a frightening task indeed.

What is a resentment in AA?

AA recognizes

that resentment is toxic to our inner lives

. … “Resentment” is close to “re-sentiment”—”sentiment” meaning “feeling” and “re” meaning “again.” So, resentment is literally “feeling again.” This gets to the heart of resentment: recycling old negative feelings or revisiting old wrongs done to us by others.

How many character defects are there?

We must find out what we've got, what we need to get rid of, and what we need to acquire. There are

20 character defects

to ask about — the individual wrongs are not necessary to go over, just the defects that caused them.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.