The AA 4th Step Inventory Worksheet — Free Big Book Method Guide
Updated: 3 days ago
The Fourth Step is where most people slow down. Not because the work is secret, but because nobody hands you a form and says 'here's exactly what to write.' The Big Book describes it in plain language — but translating it into actual sentences on actual paper takes structure. This is that structure.
If you don't have a worksheet yet, you can download our free one-page Step 4 AA worksheet (PDF). No sign-up needed. It covers resentments (pp. 64–67), fears (pp. 67–68) and sex conduct (pp. 68–70), with the page numbers printed on it so you can read the directions alongside your writing.
Before You Pick Up the Pen
Have a sponsor. The inventory is meant to be worked with someone who has done it and who will hear it in Step Five.
Know where you're starting from. The Fourth Step comes after the first three. In our teaching, Step One is about powerlessness over alcohol, physical and mental: the body can't reliably stop once it starts, and the mind can't stay stopped. That is the unmanageability. The wreckage drinking caused is not Step One's subject. It gets looked at here, in the inventory.
Set up a time and a place. A quiet table, your Big Book open to page 64, the worksheet and a pen. Short, regular sessions work better than one marathon.
What the Big Book Actually Says
Step 4 in the Big Book isn't mysterious. Page 64 sets it up directly: we're looking at resentments, because resentments are the number one offender. 'From it stem all forms of spiritual disease.' The Big Book then gives you a specific method — four columns, in order.
The Four-Column Resentment Inventory
Column 1: I'm resentful at...
Write the person, institution, or principle. One per row. This is the list you make before you start analyzing. Don't filter — write everything that comes up.
Column 2: The Cause
Why are you resentful? What did they do, or not do? Write the facts as you see them — not as they are. This column is about what your mind says happened.
Column 3: It affects my...
The Big Book gives you a specific list: self-esteem, security, ambitions, personal or sex relations. Check which ones are affected by each resentment. More than one can apply to the same person.
Column 4: My part
This is the column that does the work. Where were you selfish, self-seeking, dishonest, or frightened? The Big Book is specific: 'Putting out of our minds the wrongs others had done, we resolutely looked for our own mistakes.'
Go down, not across. Most sponsors suggest finishing Column 1 for every name before you touch Column 2, then all of Column 2, and so on. Going down keeps you moving and keeps one big resentment from swallowing the whole session.
The Fear Inventory
After resentments, the Big Book takes you to fears (page 68). The format is simpler: What am I afraid of? Why do I have this fear? What does it show about my self-reliance and faith? Work through these the same way — list everything first, then examine.
The Sex Conduct Inventory
Page 69 of the Big Book. The structure: Where had we been selfish, dishonest, or inconsiderate? Whom had we hurt? Did we unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion, or bitterness? Where were we at fault? This isn't a confession — it's an inventory. The point is to understand your patterns.
Working It With a Sponsor
The Fourth Step is designed to be done with a sponsor who knows the Big Book method. If you don't have a sponsor yet, get one before you start the Fourth Step. The Big Book is clear about this.
Tips That Keep It Moving
Write fast. Words on paper are better than perfect words in your head.
Don't edit. You'll talk it through with your sponsor later.
Keep it together. A folder tucked in your Big Book keeps every page in one place.
Set a Step Five date. A date on the calendar keeps the inventory from stalling.
Common Mistakes
Writing a story instead of a list. The columns keep it short on purpose.
Skipping Column 4. Without your part, it is a list of grievances, not an inventory.
Doing it alone. Your sponsor is part of the process, not an audience at the end.
Waiting until you feel ready. Most people never feel ready. Start anyway.
The Complete 4th Step Packet
We've built a structured, printable worksheet that covers the full Fourth Step the Big Book way — resentments, fears, and sex conduct — plus Steps 6 and 8, which flow directly from the Fourth. The Complete 4th Step Inventory Packet is a 33-page fillable PDF. $12.99. Instant download. Print it as many times as you need — once for yourself, once for each sponsee you work with.
For more on how the Fourth Step fits into the full arc of the Steps, read: How to Do the AA 4th Step Inventory — Step-by-Step Big Book Method.
Free Worksheet or Full Workbook?
The free worksheet on our 4th Step page is one page and covers all three inventories. If you want more room and more structure, the 33-page workbook includes full worksheets for resentments, fears and sex conduct, plus sections for the Steps that follow. The 4th, 6th, 8th and 9th Step packets also come with the $39 Tabs Kit.
After the Worksheet: Step Five
When the columns are done, the inventory goes to Step Five (p. 72), where you share it with your sponsor. That is where the patterns on the page start to make sense, and where many people feel the first real relief of the Steps.
Getting Your Tools in Order
Before you start the Fourth Step, make sure you have a tabbed and highlighted AA Big Book. Working Step 4 is significantly easier when you can find page 64, the resentment instructions, and the 4th Step Prayer instantly — without hunting through 575 pages. The tabs are there so the book opens where you need it. The work is yours to do.
New to the Steps? AABlueBook's beginner's guide to working the 12 Steps explains where Step 4 fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to fill in a Step 4 AA worksheet?
It varies. Some people finish in a few weeks of steady sessions; others take longer. Many sponsors suggest short, regular writing times and a date set for Step Five so the inventory doesn't stall.
Do I have to write my 4th Step down?
The Big Book's directions for Step Four are written ones, and most sponsors ask for a written inventory. Putting it on paper is what makes the patterns visible.
Can I use the worksheet without a sponsor?
You can start it on your own, but it works better with a sponsor who knows the Big Book method. They can help you get unstuck and will hear it in Step Five.
Is there a free Step 4 AA worksheet?
Yes. Our free one-page Step 4 AA worksheet covers resentments, fears and sex conduct with Big Book page references. The $12.99 workbook goes deeper, with 33 pages for Steps 4, 6, 8 and 9.
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