Step 4 Worksheets

NOTE: Scroll down this page for the links to the 5 worksheets that you can download. (About the middle of this page). You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader for the forms. Click on the links and they will open them and save or print a copy. Or, you can right click your mouse button on the link, and select "Save Target As" to download them to your PC.

Step Four! Oh what an order!

"To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book."

-- Forward to the First Edition of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous

There is much more to life than being physically sober. There is much more to sobriety than having the obsession for alcohol removed. Sober isn’t much fun - unless we can learn to be happy and sober. To be happy and sober requires emotional sobriety. The Fourth Step is our first action step towards physical and emotional sobriety.

We are in a process to recreate our lives. We made a decision to give up our old plans for living and to try A.A.’s 12 Step Plan for Living. The Fourth Step is our first action step. It is here that we know whether or not we really took Steps 1, 2 and 3.

Step Four is a fact-finding and fact-facing process. We are searching for "causes and conditions."

We want to uncover the truth about ourselves. We want to discover the attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, fears, actions, behaviors, and the behavior patterns - that have been blocking us, causing us problems and causing our failure.

We want to learn the exact nature our "character defects" and what causes us to do the unacceptable things we do - so that once they are removed - we can acquire and live with new attitudes, thoughts, beliefs, actions and behaviors for our highest good, and for the highest good of those with whom we come in contact.

This prepares us to live a life of purpose - where we can be in maximum fit condition to be of service to others. And, by taking inventory and learning the exact nature of our wrongs - we will be able to recognize when we might be slipping into our old way of life - and headed for new problems, and possibly relapse.

If you doubt that you have any problems -- just think back to the last time that you felt restless, irritable and discontented. Remember when you got angry - with your self or with another person. Remember the last time you were disturbed. Remember the last time you had a problem or troubles. The last time you felt uncomfortable and not at ease in a situation. What was it? Whom was it with? What happened?

Everything contained in the Fourth Step Inventory Worksheets is directly from the book - Alcoholics Anonymous.

The worksheets were created by using the precise instructions in the Big Book to make taking the Fourth Step as easy and simple as possible. All page numbers in this Fourth Step Inventory Workshop, refer to the third edition of the book - Alcoholics Anonymous. If you are using the fourth edition -- make sure you are on the correct page.

These are the same worksheets that I use for the 4th Step Workshops that I conduct. I have been told by both, alcoholics and non-alcoholics that the worksheets have helped them.

You will need Acrobat Reader to read and print the worksheets.

Be sure to download ALL FIVE WORKSHEETS below: The first one is the 4th Step Guide Instructions page. Read the instructions page first. If you have questions, contact me either with the contact form on the Step 12 website, or you can contact me directly in the 12 Step Forums.

4th Step Guide Instructions

4th Step - Resentments

4th Step - Fears

4th Step - Harms To Others

4th Step - Sex Conduct

-- Dallas B.

Note # 1

Recently, I received an email from someone who downloaded the 4th Step forms, and evidently, the person and their sponsor became very confused. The persons sponsor told the sponsee... that the 4th Step did not include a list of "Harms Done to Others." The email informed me, that they had spent several hours looking in the Big Book and 12 & 12 and just couldn't find any reference to this list.

If you or your sponsor encounter the same problem, please follow these suggestions:

First, Go to page 59 of the Big Book and read Step 8: " Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."

Second, please turn to page 76, of the Big Book, and read: "We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it .... when we took inventory."

There is a detailed instruction sheet that goes with the Step 4 forms, from the workshop. Please read that instruction sheet, follow the instructions, and also read all the references in the Big Book mentioned in the instructions, and read the Big Book references on each one of the individual forms.

Note #2

I have received a few emails from AA members, that were told to burn their 4th Step Inventory, during their 5th Step. I'm not sure where this ceremonial ritual got started... but, it isn't just in the Big Book. "IF" your sponsor had you burn your 4th Step Inventory, please read Note #1, above. How are you going to go back into the ashes and get your list that is needed for Step Eight and Step Nine?

NOTE: The above information is not official A.A. Literature nor is it endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous. The information is from a series of A.A. 12 Step Study talks and 12 Step Study Workshops given by Dallas B. Check back for updates. If you have questions, contact Dallas B.

What has been your experience with Step 4? Please share it with us in the Step 4 Topic in the 12 Step Forums, at Step12.com!