Whatever format you choose for your personal inventory, the most important question to ask yourself is: Does it hold up to the following truths?
- I have written down a lot.
- I have acknowledged and dissected the old hurts and frustrations that have shaped my perspective.
- I have begun to see that resentments, fears, and unhealthy interpersonal habits steal my joy and are actually hurting me.
- I have reframed how I see the people who have hurt me—not for their sake, but so I can be free of negative feelings. I have also reexamined the ways I have hurt, angered, and frustrated others.
- I am willing to straighten out the past.
As the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous reminds us:
“That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself.” (p. 71)
Facing the Hard Truths
In my post, 16 – And This Is Why…, I wrote:
“I will need to face uncomfortable truths about myself, and I will have to respond differently to life than I did before. I am entering a period where I am going to be tough with myself, and I need to know that I am not a horrible person while I am in the middle of it. God gives me that gift. He allows me to be human—no better and no worse than the next person.”
Recovery in OA taught me that facing resentment requires more than conversation—it demands true self-examination. Before completing my inventory, I had spoken about my struggles, yet I failed to realize how much I was hurting myself. I saw only what others had done to me and viewed myself as the one who was wronged, without recognizing that I had also unknowingly cast myself as the victim.
Through this work, I have come to understand that I am worthy of love and respect. I have learned better ways to navigate relationships and challenges, and I am choosing to let go of the cycle of regret and anxiety that once consumed me.
Substance Over Format
It doesn’t matter whether you follow a structured format or create your own—what truly matters is recognizing what has not worked in your life and developing a willingness to learn a better way.
Sometimes, the hardest truths we face are the ones that set us free. Healing isn’t about forgetting—it’s about understanding and choosing something better.
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