Taking a fearless Inventory

"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe. "-- Gustave Flaubert  May of us balk at the prospect of taking AA's step 4.  It seems that taring away or passing through the Vail of actual events will reveal something so sinister that we might not survive it.  The actual results of step 4 are quite the opposite. 

In his 1944 talk at the Yale School of Alcohol Studies, Wilson discussed the significance of Step Four.  He highlights that it requires an individual to conduct an honest evaluation of their past actions and behaviors.  

These insights underscore that Step Four is not merely a procedural step but a transformative process that can lead to emotional freedom and lasting sobriety. 

 

Adding in the comment of George Bernard Shaw: 'The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."  This means we cannot just write we need to review and enlighten what we have written with a trusted person.  One who seals the script with privacy and Love.   In a world of rampant Communitions and social multimedia such a true friend and confidant is hard to find.  Yet, for steps 4 and 5 they are essential. 

 

From Proverbs 28:13 we learn: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."  Likewise, The Teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley reinforce: "Our lives are what we make of them. We can choose to make them better or worse, but we must always seek to improve and change for the better." 

Conclusion 

The essence of Step 4 in AA — conducting an honest self-evaluation, confessing wrongs, and seeking emotional and spiritual healing — is supported by multiple sources. These sources include Flaubert’s idea of discovery through writing, Shaw’s emphasis on honest communication, biblical teachings on confession and repentance, and the LDS focus on self-reflection, forgiveness, and change. The process, though difficult, is a transformative one, leading to emotional freedom and lasting recovery, much like the healing principles emphasized in these traditions