12 STEP WORKBOOK

STEP FOUR – CLEANING HOUSE – HONESTY

Made A Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory Of
Ourselves 16

READ IN PREPARATION:
“Alcoholics Anonymous – “Next we launched… (cont. to)…truth
about yourself.” – Pages 63-71

And, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions – Step Four

Pages 43-55

A SPONSOR’S GUIDE 17
 DEEP SOUL CLEANSING
I’m Resentful Affects my: (3)
at or Fear: (1) The Cause (2) (Check below)
‰ Self-Esteem
‰ Security
‰ Ambitions
‰ Personal
Relations
‰ Sex Relations
‰ Pride/Shame
‰ Fear

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

I’m Resentful Affects my: (3)

at or Fear: (1) The Cause (2) (Check below)
‰ Self-Esteem
‰ Security
‰ Ambitions
‰ Personal
Relations
‰ Sex Relations
‰ Pride/Shame
‰ Fear

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

I’m Resentful Affects my: (3)

at or Fear: (1) The Cause (2) (Check below)
‰ Self-Esteem
‰ Security
‰ Ambitions
‰ Personal
Relations
‰ Sex Relations
‰ Pride/Shame
‰ Fear

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

18 COLUMN WORK
 12 STEP WORKBOOK
Ask yourself: ** (AA 67.3) Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked
* (AA 62.2) for our own mistakes… We admitted our wrongs honestly…** Column (4)
Where had (I) been selfish,
self-centred or self-seeking?**
Where had (I) been
dishonest?**
Where had (I) been
frightened?**
Where had (I) been
(responsible) to blame?**
What decisions did I make based
on self that later placed me in a
position to be hurt?*
When in the past can I remember
making this decision?* (Early memory.)
Where was I wrong?**
What was my part?

Ask yourself: ** (AA 67.3) Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked
* (AA 62.2) for our own mistakes… We admitted our wrongs honestly…** Column (4)
Where had (I) been selfish,
self-centred or self-seeking?**
Where had (I) been
dishonest?**
Where had (I) been
frightened?**
Where had (I) been
(responsible) to blame?**
What decisions did I make based
on self that later placed me in a
position to be hurt?*
When in the past can I remember
making this decision?* (Early memory.)
Where was I wrong?**
What was my part?

Ask yourself: ** (AA 67.3) Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked
* (AA 62.2) for our own mistakes… We admitted our wrongs honestly…** Column (4)
Where had (I) been selfish,
self-centred or self-seeking?**
Where had (I) been
dishonest?**
Where had (I) been
frightened?**
Where had (I) been
(responsible) to blame?**
What decisions did I make based
on self that later placed me in a
position to be hurt?*
When in the past can I remember
making this decision?* (Early memory.)
Where was I wrong?**
What was my part?

A SPONSOR’S GUIDE 19
 DEEP SOUL CLEANSING
Step 4 –SEX INVENTORY
SEX – Looking at both the past and present, what sex situations have caused me anxiety,
bitterness, frustration, or depression? We reviewed our (sex) conduct over the years past.
Who: __________ My conduct: ______________________
_____________________________________________________
43
(The following questions culled from “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 & 1244.)

Where was I selfish or self-seeking?

Where was I dishonest?

Where was I inconsiderate?

Whom had I hurt and how badly?

Did I unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion or bitterness? Explain.

Where was I responsible? What could I have done instead?

Did I spoil my marriage (relationship) and/or injure my children?

How?

Did I jeopardise my standing in the community? How?

Did I burn with a guilt that nothing could extinguish? Or did I insist
that I was the pursued and not the pursuer, and thus absolve myself?
Explain.

How’ve I reacted to frustration in sexual matters? When denied did I

become vengeful or depressed? Did I take it out on others? How?

If there was rejection or coldness at home, did I use this as a reason

for promiscuity? Explain.

What decisions did I make based on this experience that has affected
my relationships?

What is the earliest time I can remember making this decision?

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

Make as many copies of this form that you need to complete your inventory.

274
 DEEP SOUL CLEANSING
Step 4 –HARM TO OTHERS (of any kind)
HARMS TO OTHERS – This is where you put those acts of stealing, or violence,
any harm done to others that was not covered in your resentments etc.
Who: __________ My conduct: ____________________

_______________________________________________
49
(The following questions are culled from both the “Big Book” Alcoholics Anonymous and the
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. 50)

Where was I selfish or self-seeking?

Where was I dishonest?

Where was I inconsiderate?

Where was I to blame (responsible)?

What could I have done instead?

What people were hurt and how badly?

Did I spoil my marriage (relationship) and/or injure my children?

Did I jeopardise my standing in the community? How?

What decisions did I make based on this experience that has

affected my relationships?

What is the earliest time I can remember making this decision?

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

Make as many copies of this form that you need to complete your inventory.

280
 DEEP SOUL CLEANSING

Step 4 – ABOUT MONEY and/or WORK

Employer or Business Deal: _____________________________
My Conduct: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
78
(The following questions are culled from the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. )

Did fear and inferiority about my fitness for my job destroy my

confidence and fill me with conflict? Explain.

Did I try to cover up those feelings of inadequacy by bluffing,

cheating, lying, or evading responsibility? Examples.

Did I gripe that others failed to recognise my truly exceptional

abilities? Examples.

Did I overvalue myself and play the “big shot”? How?

Did I have such unprincipled ambition that I double-crossed and/or

undercut my associates? Explain.

Was I irresponsible, wasteful and extravagant? How?

Did I recklessly borrow money, caring little whether it was repaid or

not? (Mine or the companies) Explain.

Was I a pinchpenny, refusing to support my family properly? How?

Did I try to cut corners financially? Where?

What about the “quick money” deals, the stock market, and the
races? How about gambling? (In or out of business) Examples.

Did I juggle credit accounts (“robbing Peter to pay Paul”)? How?

Did I manipulate the food budget or other spending allowances?

Examples.

What Character defects contributed to my financial instability?(Enter below)

List Major “Character Defects” in preparation for STEPS 6 & 7

AMENDS STEP 8
‰ Now
‰ Later
‰ Never

Make as many copies of this form that you need to complete your inventory.

298