The 12-Step inventory process is my favourite practice and is available for anyone.
When I do an inventory, I gain humility and serenity; life improves.
It is counter-intuitive; inventories are all about me, and all the time spent thinking and writing about myself would seem self-centred and intuitively result in less humility and serenity. This was the case before I discovered the 12-Step inventory process. I would dwell on myself: my problems, my hurts, my pain and what was due to me. It was like being in the House of Mirrors at a fair. I walk through halls lined with warped and misshapen mirrors. In some, I am short and squat; in others, I am tall and thin. Still others reflect crazy images and patterns. But all of the reflections are misleading.
When I discovered the 12-Step inventory process, I found a flat mirror. The reflection was true; I could see the real me. And I could see the changes I needed to make. I could see if something was hanging from my nose, I needed to shave, or my hair was combed neatly. I could see my face clearly.
The mirror got bigger when I did more inventories and began a habit of annual inventories.
The first inventory gave me a small mirror to see my face. Over the years and inventories, the mirror grew so that I could see myself from head to toe. Then, with more inventories, the mirror grew larger, and I could see my surroundings and the people around me.
The habit of annual continuous inventories is the best habit I have developed. It takes some work and effort, but I have never completed it and said, “That was a waste of time.” Every inventory has yielded benefits and insights that improve my life.
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I think the beauty of this post Andy, is that the Step 4 inventory is never done.