Step 4 Fears inventory - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

NOMOMERLOTMAMMA · 02-26-2008, 05:44 AM

Whoo hoo..I'm finally on this one! Now, THIS should be easy. Well, if not easy, then extremely clear. Fear has run my life...

What a relief to get this stuff down on paper..

Tazman53 · 02-26-2008, 05:55 AM

You will find this to be the beginning of freedom, it sure was for me, every time I got stuck on my inventory I always read the 5th step promises:

Quote:

We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.

Those all came true for me, just do the best you can and keep in mind that one can always use step 10 to cover anything that may pop up after 4 & 5.

**CarolD** · 02-26-2008, 02:02 PM

Glad to know you are moving along Karen

29a · 02-26-2008, 02:13 PM

I said the 3rd step prayer before I sat down to work on my 4th step. it helped. Like tazman said, my 5th step was the beginning of freedom. It's when I started to be able to look the world in the eye. It was scary, the anticipation was anyway. But 5 minutes in to my 5th that fear was gone, and it was a great experience.

Sheryl85 · 02-26-2008, 02:22 PM

I'm proud of you, Karen. Keep moving on!

WLDKATZ · 02-26-2008, 02:42 PM

you make me so proud to be following you in your steps......

jimhere · 02-26-2008, 05:34 PM

The book says to list our fears, then ask why we have them. The answer of course is because self-reliance has failed. The prayer is "Dear God, please remove this fear of___and direct my attention to what you would have me BE (not do).

An example from my recent inventory:

I am afraid of being broke.

Why? Because I'll feel bad
My creditors will harrass me.
I'll be homeless
All this work will be for nothing
My life will mean nothing
Everyone will think I'm a loser and abandon me and I will end up
Alone (the root fear behind every other fear that human beings experience)

Notice how the why column just keeps going deeper into fear? And I make decisions based on these self-centered fears that cause harm and put me in the position to be hurt.

Where has self-reliance failed me? In other words what do I selfishly want?

I use money to feel good. For emotional security.
I use money to look good.
I want the money for myself.
I need this money more than I need God

"Dear God please remove this fear of being broke and direction my attention to what You would have me be."

What would God have me be? Not do. We are human beings, not human doings. Our doing comes from our being.

God would have me be: Honest
Thrifty
Generous
A good steward of what passes through my hands.

Jim

Any quotes from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition

Signal30 · 02-26-2008, 05:50 PM

Some love these, and some do not. Listed below is a AWESOME Fourth Step Inventory charts, directions, and prompt sheets. There are many like this, but I think this is the best. Many I know in the fellowship use this, (my sponsor and sponsee).

The Fear Inventory Prompt Sheet lists many fears. I know of a lot of people where both the resentment and fear prompt sheets helped motivate.

Here's the link. www.12step.org/docs/Step4_Inventory.pdf

If you don't feel like clicking on the below PDF file here's the list of fears.

Fear Of God
Fear Of Dying
Fear Of Insanity
Fear Of Insecurity
Fear Of Rejection
Fear Of Loneliness
Fear Of Disease's
Fear Of Alcohol
Fear Of Drugs
Fear Of Relapse
Fear Of Sex
Fear Of Sin
Fear Of Self-Expression
Fear Of Authority
Fear Of Heights
Fear Of Unemployment
Fear Of Employment
Fear Of Parents
Fear Of Losing A Wife
Fear Of Losing A Husband
Fear Of Losing A Child
Fear Of Animals
Fear Of Insects
Fear Of Police
Fear Of Jail
Fear Of Doctor's
Fear Of Stealing
Fear Of Creditors
Fear Of Being Found Out
Fear Of Homosexuals & Lesbians
Fear Of Failure
Fear Of Success
Fear Of Responsibility
Fear Of Physical Pain
Fear Of Fear
Fear Of Drowning
Fear Of Men
Fear Of Women
Fear Of Being Alone
Fear Of People
Fear Of Crying
Fear Of Poverty
Fear Of Races
Fear Of The Unknown
Fear Of Abandonment
Fear Of Intimacy
Fear Of Disapproval
Fear Of Rejection
Fear Of Confrontation
Fear Of Sobriety
Fear Of Hospitals
Fear Of Responsibility
Fear Of Feelings
Fear Of Getting Old
Fear Of Hurting Others
Fear Of Violence
Fear Of Writing Inventory
Fear Of Being Alive
Fear Of Government
Fear Of Gangs
Fear Of Gossip
Fear Of Wealthy People
Fear Of Guns
Fear Of Change

All the ones in bold were some of the fears I have listed on fear inventories.

Of course there are many others, but this list can get the gears turning.

Tom

NOMOMERLOTMAMMA · 02-26-2008, 06:03 PM

Thank you everyone..and Tom I pm'd you. Thank you so much.

Karen

Sugah · 02-26-2008, 06:28 PM

1cor13 · 02-26-2008, 07:46 PM

The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.

William James

The result of my own belief system didn’t work the drinking the drugs, the insanity that surrounded my world. It was only when I changed my belief system accepted AA’s and was able to let go of the past did I expand my sense of now and perceive the world differently. No longer was I alone and no longer was I afraid.

Good job and the forth!!!!!!!!

Tazman53 · 02-27-2008, 09:21 AM

My sponsor asked me if I knew how to rid myself of fear? Funny thing but by this time I only had one real major fear left and that was drinking again, not that I wanted to, but it was the beast lurking in the dark corners of my cluttered head. I recall part of my answer was facing it..................... he looked at me and said one word "Faith".

I agreed at the time but in the back of my head that beast still lurked, but so did his answer to fear......... faith!!!! It was later that evening during part of my quiet time that I pondered again what he had said........ FAITH!!!!

Suddenly it dawned on me, I had no fear of drinking again as long as I have FAITH in the steps and being able to maintain my spiritual fitness!!! The fear of drinking again was lifted!

I have used FAITH to remove other fears since then.

02-26-2008, 05:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
NOMOMERLOTMAMMA No more merlot, more mamma Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hills, Ct Posts: 2,131 Blog Entries: 36	Step 4 Fears inventory Whoo hoo..I'm finally on this one! Now, THIS should be easy. Well, if not easy, then extremely clear. Fear has run my life... What a relief to get this stuff down on paper.. __________________ But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things. ~Vincent van Gogh

02-26-2008, 02:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
CarolD Forum Leader Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Serene In Dixie Posts: 34,835	Glad to know you are moving along Karen __________________ Each Day Sober Is A Victory!! Joy In AA Recovery!

02-26-2008, 02:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
29a God is my benzo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, nc Posts: 198	I said the 3rd step prayer before I sat down to work on my 4th step. it helped. Like tazman said, my 5th step was the beginning of freedom. It's when I started to be able to look the world in the eye. It was scary, the anticipation was anyway. But 5 minutes in to my 5th that fear was gone, and it was a great experience. __________________ If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it - then you are ready to take certain steps.

02-26-2008, 02:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sheryl85 '55 Classic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Waco, TX Posts: 630	I'm proud of you, Karen. Keep moving on! __________________ "Temper is a quality that at a critical moment brings out the best in steel and worst in people." - William Grohse NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book

02-26-2008, 02:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
WLDKATZ Hell on Wheels Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Flint MI Posts: 4,455	you make me so proud to be following you in your steps...... __________________ Good Better best never let it rest until you kick the dog shi! out of the looser!!!!!!!!!

02-26-2008, 05:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
jimhere Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 2,392	The book says to list our fears, then ask why we have them. The answer of course is because self-reliance has failed. The prayer is "Dear God, please remove this fear of___and direct my attention to what you would have me BE (not do). An example from my recent inventory: I am afraid of being broke. Why? Because I'll feel bad My creditors will harrass me. I'll be homeless All this work will be for nothing My life will mean nothing Everyone will think I'm a loser and abandon me and I will end up Alone (the root fear behind every other fear that human beings experience) Notice how the why column just keeps going deeper into fear? And I make decisions based on these self-centered fears that cause harm and put me in the position to be hurt. Where has self-reliance failed me? In other words what do I selfishly want? I use money to feel good. For emotional security. I use money to look good. I want the money for myself. I need this money more than I need God "Dear God please remove this fear of being broke and direction my attention to what You would have me be." What would God have me be? Not do. We are human beings, not human doings. Our doing comes from our being. God would have me be: Honest Thrifty Generous A good steward of what passes through my hands. Jim Any quotes from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition

02-26-2008, 05:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Signal30 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 983	Some love these, and some do not. Listed below is a AWESOME Fourth Step Inventory charts, directions, and prompt sheets. There are many like this, but I think this is the best. Many I know in the fellowship use this, (my sponsor and sponsee). The Fear Inventory Prompt Sheet lists many fears. I know of a lot of people where both the resentment and fear prompt sheets helped motivate. Here's the link. www.12step.org/docs/Step4_Inventory.pdf If you don't feel like clicking on the below PDF file here's the list of fears. Fear Of God Fear Of Dying Fear Of Insanity Fear Of Insecurity Fear Of Rejection Fear Of Loneliness Fear Of Disease's Fear Of Alcohol Fear Of Drugs Fear Of Relapse Fear Of Sex Fear Of Sin Fear Of Self-Expression Fear Of Authority Fear Of Heights Fear Of Unemployment Fear Of Employment Fear Of Parents Fear Of Losing A Wife Fear Of Losing A Husband Fear Of Losing A Child Fear Of Animals Fear Of Insects Fear Of Police Fear Of Jail Fear Of Doctor's Fear Of Stealing Fear Of Creditors Fear Of Being Found Out Fear Of Homosexuals & Lesbians Fear Of Failure Fear Of Success Fear Of Responsibility Fear Of Physical Pain Fear Of Fear Fear Of Drowning Fear Of Men Fear Of Women Fear Of Being Alone Fear Of People Fear Of Crying Fear Of Poverty Fear Of Races Fear Of The Unknown Fear Of Abandonment Fear Of Intimacy Fear Of Disapproval Fear Of Rejection Fear Of Confrontation Fear Of Sobriety Fear Of Hospitals Fear Of Responsibility Fear Of Feelings Fear Of Getting Old Fear Of Hurting Others Fear Of Violence Fear Of Writing Inventory Fear Of Being Alive Fear Of Government Fear Of Gangs Fear Of Gossip Fear Of Wealthy People Fear Of Guns Fear Of Change All the ones in bold were some of the fears I have listed on fear inventories. Of course there are many others, but this list can get the gears turning. Tom

02-26-2008, 06:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
NOMOMERLOTMAMMA No more merlot, more mamma Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hills, Ct Posts: 2,131 Blog Entries: 36	Thank you everyone..and Tom I pm'd you. Thank you so much. Karen __________________ But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things. ~Vincent van Gogh

02-26-2008, 06:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sugah Om, Aum, Ohm... Mini Pool 2 Champion! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Punxsutawney/Pittsburgh Posts: 4,596	__________________ There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile ~WZ ANS 01/29/86 - 08/04/08

02-26-2008, 07:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
1cor13 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 170	The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds. William James The result of my own belief system didn’t work the drinking the drugs, the insanity that surrounded my world. It was only when I changed my belief system accepted AA’s and was able to let go of the past did I expand my sense of now and perceive the world differently. No longer was I alone and no longer was I afraid. Good job and the forth!!!!!!!!

02-27-2008, 09:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tazman53 Follow Directions! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Fredericksburg, Va. Posts: 9,745	My sponsor asked me if I knew how to rid myself of fear? Funny thing but by this time I only had one real major fear left and that was drinking again, not that I wanted to, but it was the beast lurking in the dark corners of my cluttered head. I recall part of my answer was facing it..................... he looked at me and said one word "Faith". I agreed at the time but in the back of my head that beast still lurked, but so did his answer to fear......... faith!!!! It was later that evening during part of my quiet time that I pondered again what he had said........ FAITH!!!! Suddenly it dawned on me, I had no fear of drinking again as long as I have FAITH in the steps and being able to maintain my spiritual fitness!!! The fear of drinking again was lifted! I have used FAITH to remove other fears since then. __________________ All BB quotes are from the First Edition of the BB Follow directions! Sobriety date 18 Sept. 2006 Sober today thanks to AA

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