Seven Deadly Sins and the 4th Step

[Cubile75]

I am not afraid to do a searching and fearless moral inventory. I just can't get my head around the resentment approach. I have been doing a lot of work on my inventory, just not my resentments... not that I don't have any, but I am stuck.

There is a hard core type AA at my home group. He shoots straight and tells it like it is, he alone has helped many a problem I've had with this early sobriety thing. I was talking about my 4th step problem with him... he has like 23 years of sobriety and he has what I want. He suggested that I look at it more directly... like from the seven deadly sins perspective, rather than the resentment angle.

That I can do... When I go at it like that, things fall into place... I brainstormed with him a while after the last meeting and he was amazingly helpful. He agreed to work with me once I get my inventory together... which I want to do before vacation in a couple of weeks.

What do some of you who have worked the steps think of this approach?

Mark

[Believe808]

Hi Mark, when I was working on my 4th step, I couldn't really think of any resentments. My sponsor told me she would help me and she did. We talked just me telling my story to her and she then had me stop after certain things and pointed out, ah ha does that sound like a resentment to you. Well I ended up having lots. It was so much easier for me to get on with my 4th step after our meeting. I also prayed alot before and while doing it. I can tell you this, it was very freeing after 5th was completed. Good luck.

[keithj]

Mark,

I'm so happy for you, man. I've experienced first hand and seen in others what a transformation can occur by doing this work. I think you'll like the results.

Originally Posted by Cubile75

What do some of you who have worked the steps think of this approach?

If it clicks and it's working and you've got a good sponsor giving direction, go for it and don't look back. That's my opinion, for what it's worth.

It's not the way I did or do it, but that's OK. I don't take everyone through the steps the same way. I follow the book closely, but I think that we need to bring God into the process. It's not just a rote thing on paper. It's inspired and sometimes that plays out differently for different people.

[Rowan]

I've done three 4th Steps the 'traditional' way and once using the 7 Deadly Sins as my guide. All were helpful.

[McGowdog]

I laid out the example of the 4th step I use in this here "Step 4 thread and it's pretty "to the book".

We use the Sacraments of Pennance in the 8th step to get clear on the harm for when we go to make amends.

I write three inventories for the 4th Step; resentments, fear, and sex/harms done. Outside of that, you're being asked to do something besides what's in the Big Book. I suppose this is fine so long as a recovered alcoholic has got you in their care. I can't judge someone for going above and beyond what's in the book because I've done so myself.

Worship God, not the fingers that point to God.

[sugErspun]

I did mine, like many others - straight from the book.

And I got stuck, confused also ~ because I was trying to wrap my head around it all.

The best advice I got was: Get a piece of paper and write down the name of any person, institution or principle that I have ever been angry with. Write a prayer at the top of the page asking that I be shown what I need to be shown....and then start writing out that list.

Part 1 of Step 4 is just a list of names, institutions and principles. When I was able to not be concerned with "why" I was writing this stuff down, and just got into the action of writing ~ a whole bunch came out.

Then I was given instruction for Part 2 ~ the second column.


The 7 deadly sins stuff I have only heard referred to in regards to the 3rd column...it seems that is two columns away right now. Not to mention, it really had nothing to do with the 7 deadly sins at all.

It's important to know that the 4th step is not about therapy, or finding out more about ones self.

The 4th step is about identifying those things which are blocking you from the power you need to recover and letting go of it, getting rid of it.

To face and be rid of....
A fact finding and fact facing process....
An effort to find the truth about the stock in trade...
Disclose damaged or unsaleable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret.

The above were taken from a single paragraph in the book that explains why we are taking an inventory....I had to read it again and again to realize how simple this process really is.


All the best..move forward!


(bb references taken from http://www.aa.org/bigbookonline/en_bigbook_chapt5.pdf )

[DaveBB164]

when I first came to AA my local group was a Middle Of The Road group so I was indoctrinated into counterfeit AA, the thing that is rife in that area is doing step 4 as a life story and that is what I did, all I found out was what I already knew ( not much ),

when I came back to AA there was a guy who took me through the steps following the clear cut directions, following the process precisely removed the obstacles that were blocking me from God and I recovered, I am grateful my sponsor loved me enough to tell me the truth and did not tip toe around my poor little feelings, AA did not give me my life back, AA gave me the life I never had.

[Cubile75]

Well, this guy is not one to tiptoe around anybody's poor little feelings, which is precisely why I asked him to help. In fact many of the MOTR people avoid talking to him about sensitive issues because he will let them know what they need to know.... When he has helped me, it was always with a stinger attached...

I don't know, I was just interested if people have come at their character defects through the seven deadly sins... Rowan has... McGowdog seemed to think it was above and beyond...

Was just interested if there was experience with this... I know that when I go at it thinking about that way, I'm able to really get at it, and he was helping to extend and develop...

Mark

[bballdad]

Mark,I have done it that way before,but the simplest for me was the way the book laid it all out.
After all,they was there before the 7 deadly sins,those 7 deadly sins was a manifestion of the resentments,fears,etc.....which come from self
if it helps you to do it that way,go at it,I never got drunk from doing a inventory

good luck

[jimhere]

Mark,

although I prefer the format from the book, I have inventoried using the seven deadlies. It was a good experience. I also have an exercise for Steps 6 & 7 using them.

If you'd like to see this stuff, send me your email address via private message and I'll email it to you.
Jim