Page: 70
Chapter: 5 "How It Works"
Subject: Resentment Inventory, Fear, Self reliance, Trust
Good morning. We are finishing up the 4th step directions.
- What will have happened by the time Steps Three and Four are completed?
That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself.
Comment: The truth will set us free. But until it does, it will beat our brains out!!!
This assumes we have followed the directions and not adapted some other methods; that we have not under or over analyzed our past or the truths that our past behaviors have brought to light.
1) a four column written Resentment Inventory.
2) the word “Pride” has been written on the appropriate lines as indicated in the example on page 65
3) The word “fear” in brackets has been written on the appropriate lines as indicated in the directions on page 65
4) A three column Fear inventory that includes the fears off the resentment list as well as fears not associated with that list, added on.
5) A six-column Sex inventory.
6) A list of the people we have hurt (It has become common practice put this list on the same page as the “Sex Inventory” – save a tree? Doesn’t seem to be a problem.)
7) Maybe a written sane/sound future “sex ideals” page. (‘written’ is not indicate in the book, again just common practice based upon experience of many “sponsor” and passed on over the years)
Anything less is not thorough and anything more is overshooting the runway. Either will be detrimental to this process and usually result in big chunks being un-swallowed - or else a severe case of indigestion, even for those "chunks" we manage to avoid choking on.
NEXT – we start Chapter 6 “Into Action”.
Peace and Love,
Danny S – RLRA
Real Live Recovered Alcoholic
[1] Even though this is how the Book delineates a 4th step inventory and it does work, there is a good chance the above summation will not correspond 100% with how you’ve done it in the past. This is the problem with the plethora of re-fit, watered down or unnecessarily amplified step methods proliferating over the last two decades. With the growth of portable media and the Internet, these have spread even wider than they had in decades previous. If your method has come close and a spiritual awakening has still occurred for you there is no need to be dismayed. You have been blessed and it would not be necessary to go back to re- do it. Spiritual awakening is the only result we can hope for, not "compliance". But in order to represent to a newcomer that you will show him how YOU did it, you will have to be honest, letting him know. Please be sure to indicate that YOUR inventory differs from the Big Book. IE. If you don’t have “fear” “bracketed” or "Pride" alongside appropriate items on your own inventory please don’t convey that you have. If you used a 4 Column SEX Inventory, don’t say you’ve followed the “Sex Review” directions in the book. But going forward it is suggested that you get back to what is in the book; deep six the rewritten directions often found in 12 step course-books, uber-sponsor revisions or on rehab handouts. Being honest with others in all matters is a good indicator that your own virtue remains intact and that your spiritual growth has been activated and continues.
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