How do you write inventory?
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 106
My sponsor had me list my resentments, shame, guilt, and fear. From there I did it just like the BB does. For each one I listed specifically what it was, the cause, and how it effected me. For me, what I found was that most of them effected my self esteem and/or security, all of which stem from fear.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 33
The only way to do it wrong is to not do it at all. Like MarylandRick said, list all the negative stuff (according to the BB, the reasons why we drank). Many of us tend to overlook our "assets" --- the BB suggests a balanced inventory, although I personally had a tough time identifying much that I liked about myself when I first got into recovery.
I had to focus on the guilt and shame, because they were ultimately the source of my denial, and on old resentments and hurts because I drank to fill the hole they left behind.
I had to focus on the guilt and shame, because they were ultimately the source of my denial, and on old resentments and hurts because I drank to fill the hole they left behind.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,146
I wrote my story out to clear my confusion about what had happened and to see my patterns, then made 4 lists...resentment, fears, relationships and faults (defects).
The writing just took a few days, the drama my head donated stretched the process out to 4 months.
The writing just took a few days, the drama my head donated stretched the process out to 4 months.
Came to Believe
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Montgomery AL
Posts: 507
Thanks Bryan and Maryland Rick (and omegasupreme for asking the question in the first place). I'm working on my fourth step now with my sponsor and I'm having a hard time with it (I'm a lot more angry and afraid than I thought).
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,095
My original 4th Step was written exactly as the BB directs. A three column resentment inventory per Bill W.'s example, then answering the pg 67 questions in paragraph form. In inventories since then, I like that expanded 3rd column I've mentioned here a few times, where every one of the 3rd column 'affects my' topics get addressed from a position of delusion (high self-esteem). Fear gets in a list, with a funneling down process of 'we asked ourselves why we had this fear' to identify some root fears that drive me (and fuel my resentments and determine my actions. Sex inventory is from the book, answering the 8-9 questions, and forming a sex ideal from the 'what could I have done differently' direction.
My daily 10th Steps inventories are straight from the 9 questions on pg 86. I've found a lot of benefit from formally writing these down, although I'm not always disciplined about it. I never write more than a page. If something keeps nagging at me, I'll write a formal 4th Step style inventory on it, then carry it through Steps 5-9.
The BB suggests nothing about a 'balanced' inventory or any inclusion of my assets.
My daily 10th Steps inventories are straight from the 9 questions on pg 86. I've found a lot of benefit from formally writing these down, although I'm not always disciplined about it. I never write more than a page. If something keeps nagging at me, I'll write a formal 4th Step style inventory on it, then carry it through Steps 5-9.
Originally Posted by BryanS 
--- the BB suggests a balanced inventory
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
I do it a lot of ways.......but, of course, there's the "Big Book" method that I follow when I'm doing what I call a "formal" 4th step. (Now, I use Joe Hawk's "Big Book Awakening" to do 4th steps......especially his 3rd and 4th column guidelines). I've found that my 3rd column is very......um......enlightening now where it used to be somewhat academic.
IN ADDITION to the way the BB asks us to do it, I also do some daily journaling (been slacking on this one lately) which is inventory in another format.
IN ADDITION to the way the BB asks us to do it, I also do some daily journaling (been slacking on this one lately) which is inventory in another format.
12-Step Recovered Alkie
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Bloomfield, MI
Posts: 5,797
Originally Posted by BryanS
Page 46
Funny enough, I've found a lot of my "attributes" really weren't necessarily "good things" - not the way I used them anyway. So, in that sense, listing what I thought was good about me opened my eyes to more defects and exact natures of defects......so I didn't get to keep that 'feels good' feeling so long but I did get to see that there was more going on with me than just the defects I was aware of from the get-go.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 456
Thank you all... I still haven't done a 4th step and I'm at 8+ months. Like others, my sponsor said there is no wrong way other than not doing it. I'm going to start by doing resentments. I need to do something to get going and overcome my fear.
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 218
The same as many of the others. I did it the way it is laid out in the book. I only did a full inventory on resentments to start with. Three columns - person/place/institution toward whom I am resentful, why, what it affects. Then covered those up and wrote down my mistakes.
On a daily basis, I sometimes will write my debits and credits as the 12 and 12 suggests. If I am upset about something, I do the same inventory I did for my 4th. It is amazing how IT WORKS! Good luck.
On a daily basis, I sometimes will write my debits and credits as the 12 and 12 suggests. If I am upset about something, I do the same inventory I did for my 4th. It is amazing how IT WORKS! Good luck.
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: the high desert
Posts: 887
Basically the way it is outlined in the BB.
I list out the resentments against people, principles or institutions, and in column two, why i was upset with each. Then in the third and fourth columns i follow the questions in the book, what had been affected, and where had i been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking or afraid. My sponsor had me write short sentences or phrases for the third and fourth columns.
Writing out the sentences really helped me focus in on my part, which then helped to illuminate character defects as well.
I list out the resentments against people, principles or institutions, and in column two, why i was upset with each. Then in the third and fourth columns i follow the questions in the book, what had been affected, and where had i been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking or afraid. My sponsor had me write short sentences or phrases for the third and fourth columns.
Writing out the sentences really helped me focus in on my part, which then helped to illuminate character defects as well.
Guest
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: marietta
Posts: 2
we have forms here in atlanta that makes it easier.i could send u one as an attachment if youd like.dont focus so hard on what it is yet.just get it on paper then in the 5th youll study or find the causes .just do as the bb says where did it effect me
my ego/selfesteem my financial security these forms were very helpful as i just needed to get it down on paper dont do to much overthinking right now just try to be thourogh and BRUTALLY HONEST ! was the toughy and moral **** MORAL TOO hahahah youll do just fine just getter donee its not rocket science to much thinking //humm i read some where i have a thinking problem so i was told to stop thinking and do it .
my ego/selfesteem my financial security these forms were very helpful as i just needed to get it down on paper dont do to much overthinking right now just try to be thourogh and BRUTALLY HONEST ! was the toughy and moral **** MORAL TOO hahahah youll do just fine just getter donee its not rocket science to much thinking //humm i read some where i have a thinking problem so i was told to stop thinking and do it .
Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5,387
Omegasupreme, I feel the only way to do a wrong inventory is to not do it at all. My preference at this stage of the game is to focus on the big two, resentments on page 65 and fears on page 68 of the BB. If sex has caused harm or is a problem, then that should also be included on page 69 of the BB.
BB 1st ed.
BB 1st ed.
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,967
There are many ways to do an inventory. There is the original way to do a 4th step as written in the big book with directions from a sponsor. Mine took 3 hours on a Saturday followed by a 5th step on Sunday, which took almost 6 hours (discussion with sponsor).
This was not rushed, yet it was honest & thorough. Nothing less than what the first 40-100 did. I have had no craving since I worked these (& the other) steps. It helps when the sponsor has done them more than once & who knows the text and the history of AA, in my opinion. Why change something that has worked for many decades?
Best wishes!
Don't hesitate between steps 4-9, stopping has not benefitted many. Get out of self ceenteredness and be present in the moment!
This was not rushed, yet it was honest & thorough. Nothing less than what the first 40-100 did. I have had no craving since I worked these (& the other) steps. It helps when the sponsor has done them more than once & who knows the text and the history of AA, in my opinion. Why change something that has worked for many decades?
Best wishes!
Don't hesitate between steps 4-9, stopping has not benefitted many. Get out of self ceenteredness and be present in the moment!
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