Briarwood Detox Center — Step 4 worksheet
Step 4 worksheet — the searching and fearless inventory
Step 4 asks for a written inventory of yourself: the resentments, the fears, the harm done and received, and — genuinely — the good in you.
This is the long one, and the one people put off for months. Two things make it manageable. First, it is written, not remembered — a page can be finished, whereas thinking about it never ends. Second, the last column is the only one that is really about you.
Resentment inventory
One row per person, institution, or principle you resent. Fill the first three columns across the whole page before you attempt the fourth — otherwise you will start defending yourself and stop being honest. Print extra copies; nobody fits this on one sheet.
| I am resentful at | What happened | What it threatened in me (pride, security, relationships, ambition, self-worth) | My part in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fear inventory
Fear is usually underneath the resentment. Name it, then ask what it was protecting.
| What I am afraid of | Why — what it costs me if it happens | What I do to manage that fear |
|---|---|---|
Harm I have caused
This is not the amends list yet — that is Step 8. Here you are only writing down what happened, without deciding what to do about it.
| Who | What I did | What it cost them |
|---|---|---|
What is good in me
Not optional. An inventory that records only the debts is not an inventory, it is a punishment, and people who write only that column tend to stop working the steps.
What have I done that I am genuinely proud of?
What do the people who love me say I am like at my best?
What have I stayed loyal to, even when it was hard?
What did I survive?
Before you put this away
A worksheet is a way to get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. It is not the step. Step 4 is worked with a sponsor, a counselor, or someone else who has done it — they will see things in these pages that you cannot see yourself.
Who am I going to show this to, and when?
What did I leave off these pages because I did not want to write it down?
This worksheet is provided free by Briarwood Detox Center for personal reflection. It is not medical advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous. Work it with a sponsor or counselor. If you need help right now, call (866) 710-7710. If you have thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.