It took me years to get past the third step. Mostly because the 12 & 12 said, "that other Steps of the A.A. program can be practiced with success only when Step Three is given a determinded & persistent trail."
Then I heard a speeker say," When you pick up a pencil & paper to do your fourth step inventory, you have done the third step well enough to go on with the rest of the program!"
Worked for me.