Step Four Introduction

[soloadmin]

Revised Step 4
"We honestly assessed the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to our substance use and its consequences, reflecting on our values, and made a thorough and fearless list of all damage done to ourselves and others as a result of our addictive behavior(s)."

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? Meaning and Breakdown
This expands AA’s original Step 4:
"Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves."

This version adds depth by including science, psychology, and values. Let’s break it down:

✅ "We honestly assessed the biological, psychological, and social factors..."
- Addiction is complex — not just a character flaw.
- This means examining trauma, mental health, social environments, and more.

How to do it: Ask: What pain was I medicating? What was I escaping? What was out of balance in my life?

✅ "...reflecting on our values..."
- This brings your true self back into the conversation.
- What do you stand for? What kind of person do you want to be?

How to do it: List your core values. Then reflect on where addiction pulled you away from them.

✅ "...made a thorough and fearless list of all damage done..."
- This isn’t just a guilt trip — it’s an honest inventory of consequences.
- You’ll list harm to others and to yourself.

How to do it: Use a journal or chart. Include who was hurt, how it happened, and how it affected them and you.

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? How to Practice This Step

1. Create Safe Space: Find time and privacy for reflection. Honesty needs quiet.
   
2. Understand Your "Why": Use a biopsychosocial lens to understand how addiction happened.
   
3. Reconnect with Values: Identify what you believe in — and how you want to live.
   
4. List the Harm Done: Include harm to yourself, others, your relationships, your body, and your spirit.
   
5. Be Compassionate with Yourself: You’re learning, not sentencing yourself.
   

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⚠️ Key Insights

• This Step is About Clarity, Not Shame: You’re not bad — you’re human and healing.
  
• It Starts the Accountability Process: Awareness is the first step to real repair.
  
• Trauma-Informed Recovery: Your biology, history, and environment matter. This step respects that.
  

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❤️ Final Thought
This step is a turning point. It shows you not just what went wrong, but what matters to you. It invites you to witness your story with truth and courage — and to begin writing a new chapter, rooted in clarity and self-awareness.