The Fourth Step

Posted on March 31, 2026, tagged as Addiction Recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholism, Heroic Journey, Twelve Steps

The fourth step in the Alcoholics Anonymous program reads, “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” The founders of the program, being alcoholics themselves, realized that all alcoholics are guilt-ridden and shame-ridden individuals, and that without an attempt to resolve these feelings a return to drinking is almost inevitable. Therefore, a method was developed to work on these issues, starting with a thorough self-evaluation. Willingness to take this step is essential. Courage is called for, in greater measure than most people think they have. Where does one find such courage? It comes from the program itself. The newcomer has already accepted the call to adventure of the heroic journey of recovery by agreeing to try the program. It is largely from seeing that others have gone through the steps that courage is found. This is a higher power manifested as a Group Of Drunks (G.O.D).

The key to success in taking the fourth step is to find a competent guide. Such a person usually is the sponsor, a sober alcoholic who has already completed all twelve steps and can provide encouragement, guidance, and support. There are also many places where one can find charts and instructions to assist in organizing and conducting this activity. Structure is helpful in keeping the task from feeling so overwhelming that paralysis sets in. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous does provide some instructions which may be used as a guide. What it does not provide is the suggestion that one make an actual list of what AA refers to as “character defects,” a term that I do not love. Bill Wilson also uses the term “shortcomings” that I find less moralistic and shaming. I suggest that one make two lists, one of shortcomings and another of the opposite character assets. Having done so, I suggest writing about each pair of characteristics, explaining where you see yourself, whether at one extreme, or somewhere in between. Be thorough in this exercise. This will produce a more balanced view of oneself without avoiding the hard truths that must be faced.

The heroic journey of recovery is both an outward adventure of living in the world without drinking, and an inward journey of self-discovery. It is noteworthy that after step one, almost nothing about either drinking or not drinking is mentioned in the steps themselves. It is with the fourth step that this journey of self-discovery begins, and which leads to a purging of the guilt and shame that have been carried so deeply and have led to such remorse and self-hate. Reluctance to do this thoroughly is always part of the process, corresponding to the “refusal of the call” that is part of every heroic journey. It is worth mentioning that this step will never be taken perfectly. Perfection is not a human condition. Wanting to be perfect is actually a shortcoming, not completely unlike alcoholism itself, in that too much of any good thing is a bad thing. Humility is a human quality that the hero will discover as he or she travels the pathway of recovery. We are neither as bad as we thought we were, nor as great as we imagined ourselves to be. It is through taking action and embarking on this self-examination, painful though it may be, that we chart a course that will lead to contented sobriety.