Step 4: A Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory

September (in addition to many other things) is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  In honor, many bloggers around the b5media Health and Welness Channel have taken one of the 12 Steps, and expanded on them. 

I chose to participate, as I was raised by an alcoholic parent, and know not only how prevalent the disease of addiction is, but also how hard it is to kick. To be able to make the decision to seek treatment for something with not only so much social stigma, but something that has ruled your life and your rleationships for so long is admirable and should be applauded. I only wish that one day my parent will find that same strength.

It’s easy to point fingers, and assume what its like, which is why I chose step number 4 of the 12 Step Program:  Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

The purpose of this step is for the addict to be completely honest with themselves and face all the wrongs they committed and flaws they possess.

An addict posted this on the 12Step.org site:

“The first step in this process of “getting real” is to take an honest inventory of my life. Exactly where have I been, what have I done and how far did I go in my addictive behaviors? When and where did they start and where have they led me? This is a vital step away from my addicted life filled with chaos and insane behaviors towards a conscious life filled with more personal power and serenity.”

I believe everyone can benefit from doing a little honest soul searching.  For me, being raised in the situation I was, it would be easy to point fingers and accuse and bring up every individual situation that was ruined by alcohol, that scarred me to this very day and changed the very person I have become. BUT, I feel we are all the culmination of our circumstances and experiences, and without my childhood I would not be the person I have become (ie. pretty damn awesome.) Sometimes its easy for me to fall back on that and use my situation as reason I respond to things the way I do.

I tend to over extend myself in order to please everyone; I have a problem with saying no. I know it comes from that constant search for approval, or any recognition for my accomplishments whatsoever.  I’m very regimented and scheduled, I need to have everything planned, and if anything unexpected pops up, I get very anxious. I know this is because of the inconsistent environment I was raised in. I need to control everything.  Knowing these things about myself is the biggest part, but next I need to learn that its no excuse. I need to learn to say no, and look out for myself, because I am an adult now, and I can’t go through life trying to please others.

I encourage you all to look deep down and examine why you do the things you do.  Feel free to share them here, or any experiences you may have had with addiction. And don’t forget to check the other 12 Steps being covered around the Health and Wellness Channel.

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