HeyStoopid

Is it common for a first attempt at a Step 4 inventory to stretch 4-5 typed pages? Or am I just trying to be overly impressive for my sponsor by putting in petty and trivial resentments?

Thanks everyone.

Joe Nerv

Best way to answer your question is by going back to the 3rd step, turning the 4th step completely over to the care of your HP, and then asking your sponsor. I really don't think anybody here can answer that for you.

A friend of mine had 3, yes THREE notebooks full of stuff. And she swears her 5th step took 2 10 hour sessions. To me, that's completely insane, for her, it was what she needed to do.

My first 4th step was probably about 10 handwritten pages (we didn't have word processors back than, at least not in our homes). About 2 years later I wasn't satisfied and I did it again. Did a few more after that too.

God, your sponsor, and your gut. That's my suggestion.

Minion09

I think that you do what you need.... 1 page, 4 pages, 40 pages whatever works for you to do a searching and fearless inventory. Be truthful, get it all out and it is what it is as far as pages...

jdooner

I am well over 4-5 pages typed.

Berrybean

Lol - I just turned the page to the 5th and came on here to check as well. I guess if these things are still there, unforgotten and undealt with, this is our chance to 'deal' with it. It just makes me laugh because I struggled to write the first 2 or 3, and now they just keep coming.
I find it interesting how treacherous I feel writing bad things about others as well. Especially the people that I love.

Joe Nerv

This has nothing to do with anything , but I just read this and realized that when I did my first 4th step, if I had typed it, it would have had to have been on a typewriter. Very few people had PCs at that time, if the internet even existed it took 20 minutes to access it, and there was nobody else on it. And the first time I ever saw a word processor, I was 3 years sober. My girlfriend at the time was typing a college report for me on her computer at work and I was blown away by what she was able to do. I remember the report had to be 5 pages and it came out to 4. I was bummed, and she said no problem... changed the font, or the margins and it was like a miracle taking place right before my very eyes. Makes me grateful for being able to type this as I'm typing it right now on this forum . Thanks for unwittingly sparking that memory, and apologies for the slight derail.

Time flies.

WMJ1012

I once had a sponsee who wouldn't write...she wanted to tape record it.
I told her there was magic in pen and paper

Fly N Buy

My sponsor simply instructed me to "get rid of the boulders and don't write war and peace "

There is no wrong way or length - it's your canvas - paint your picture!
The journey is wonderful ....

Ps - I had 3 pages (written ) on my spouse of 31 years. Man, I am messed up!!
Our relationship is soooo much better today once I took ownership of all my self centered fears.

Working on her inventory now - just kidding
Peace

sugarbear1

I'm given two pieces of paper and a pencil.....

MIRecovery

If it bounces around in your head on a regular basis it should be on the list

mfanch

Some are short. Some are long. Both are right as long as they are thorough, leaving no stone unturned.

Mine was 8 pages and my husbands was two notes books full. It takes what it takes.

UncleMeat69

Kinda like the example in the BB, huh ?

sugarbear1

accurate observation, UncleMeat69

Tommyh

last 4th step I did was about 4 years ago,and I had almost 3 composition notebooks full of resentments,fears and sex in it


I have developed a saying for myself
what I leave off the paper,I leave inside of me