aa 4th step
Charlotte Adams
Updated on July 06, 2026
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
How do you write a 4th step?
A Guide to Writing Your 4th Step
Resentments. List any thoughts, experiences, memories, ideas, beliefs, or observations from your entire life that currently cause you negative emotional or mental experiences. Fears. Listing your fears may feel like an endless task. Sexual Conduct/Harm Done to Others.
What is happening in the fourth step?
Alcoholic Anonymous Fourth Step
In AA, the fourth step is creating a moral inventory of ourselves. This means identifying behaviors and why we do them. It means taking a hard look in the mirror and recognizing that we are responsible for our behavior, not spouses, not institutions and not other people.
Where is the 4th step in the big book?
FOURTH STEP INVENTORY: SEX CONDUCT
– Read from bottom of page 68 through 70 of the Big Book before beginning.
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.
What are some character defects?
Examples of common character defects include:
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 you do a resentment inventory?
Here are some tips to help you with this moral inventory: Try and list resentments in groups, i.e.; Family, school, relationships, work, etc. If you are not sure in any area, call somebody and ask them for their experience. Get into the habit of writing every day, even if it’s only for ten minutes.
How do you take personal inventory?
Follow these three steps for a comprehensive personal inventory, and start working toward your goals with a new spring in your step.
Identify areas you’d like to work on. Photo: Kelli Stirrett on Unsplash. Take a personality test. Conduct an interest inventory.
What does searching and fearless mean?
NA emphasizes that Step 4 calls on you to be searching and fearless. You are asked to look carefully at yourself and to get beneath the self-deceptions you have used up to now to hide the truth from yourself. Search within, as if entering a dark house with a single candle to guide you.
What does a moral inventory mean?
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. This step, although difficult, is an important part of achieving long-term sobriety in drug rehab.
What is a resentment in AA?
“Resentment is the “number one” offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” (
What pages are Step 4 in the Big Book?
Step 4 Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. This Step is described on pages 63:4 – 71 and directions for taking this Step are given throughout. The results of taking Step 4 are given on page 70:3. Step 5 Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
What is the 5th step?
The 5th Step – “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Who wrote the family afterward?
Originally written by Bill W in the fall of 1938, Chapter 9 describes the dire impact that alcoholism has on family relationships and how those dynamics are affected by the head of the family getting sober.
How do I prepare for step 5 of AA?
How Do You Complete Alcoholics Anonymous Step 5?
Reveal your most distressing and tormenting memories to another person—most likely your sponsor.Be as honest as possible with that person and look at who you are and who you would like to become.Be vulnerable and don’t hold back.
Why is Step 5 important?
Purpose of Step 5
It prepares members for the rest of the step. But by having that conversation with a personal higher power in a spirit of prayer, the things that need to be changed are revealed. The exact nature of our wrongs has been discovered along with the ways that they need to be changed.