A Positive Approach to Step 4

I’m still struggling with The Big Book’s suggestions on how to create your personal inventory.  All of this talk of resentments and people harmed does not resonate with me.  When I was drinking, I kept to myself and hid myself away.  I wasn’t out interacting with people and pissing people off.  I wasn’t out letting people piss ME off.

I don’t feel like I’m troubled with past harms done and people that are taking up space in my head.  I recognize that creating a brutally honest and soul-searching personal inventory can be a powerful tool for self-reflection and growth, so I want to work on Step Four, but I’m struggling.

Maybe I need a new perspective.  Here are some suggestions that I’ve gotten for some new areas of my personality to focus on:

Strengths and Weaknesses – What am I good at and where do I stumble?

Values and Beliefs – What’s my mindset?  What do I hold near and dear?  Do they align with society, or are they malignant and need revising?

Goals and Aspirations – What do I hope to get out of recovery?  Who is the person that I want to be?  What do I see as a reward to recovery?

Achievements and Failures – What have I done with my life?  Am I making the most of it?  For what should I be rewarded?  Where have I fallen on my face?

Relationships – What is it like to have ME as a family member, a friend, or as an employee?  Do people look forward to seeing me?  Am I nice to be around? Or am I the common denominator in a lot of bad feelings?

Emotional Well-Being – What’s it like inside my head on a day-to-day basis?  Am I comfortable in my own skin?  Do I enjoy a cheery outlook on the day?

Physical Health – Am I exercising enough, or is a daily workout something that I plan for and never really find the time for?  Am I eating a balanced diet, or am I replacing alcohol with a lot of sugar and junk food?

Personal Growth – Am I moving forward?  Am I learning new things and setting new goals?

Career and Professional Life – How’s work?  Should I be making more money?  Could I be doing a little more for my employer or am I just doing enough to fly under the RADAR?

Financial Health – What’s in your wallet?  Hopefully, I’ve got a little more money since I’m not wasting it on alcohol.  Am I paying my bills on time?  Am I putting aside enough for the future?

Spirituality – Am I practicing regular (daily) meditation and prayer?  Am I seeking God’s help actively?

I think if I meditate on these questions, I should come up with a pretty complete inventory.  I should be positive but honest.  I will write down my answers and show my work.  I will get through Step Four.