A moral inventory is a way to help people in recovery look at how they have acted in the past and what beliefs may have fueled those actions. As the fourth step in the 12-step addiction recovery process, creating a moral inventory is essential for helping you own up to your flaws and wrongdoings so you can move forward.
Making a moral inventory can be difficult, primarily if your addiction has led you down a rocky road. Enrolling in 12-step-based treatment at My 5 Palms will give you non-judgmental support to create a moral inventory and work through character defects. Call us today at 1.844.675.1022 to learn more.
The Importance of Engaging in a Moral Inventory
It is essential for people who want to change their lives and improve themselves to work on changing their behavior by understanding why it happened in the first place. A moral inventory allows you to look at your actions from an objective point of view. This can help you understand where you went wrong and how to avoid making those same mistakes.
How to Start a Moral Inventory
You can make a moral inventory on your own or with the help of a therapist, recovery sponsor, or addiction treatment specialist. If you would like to get started on a moral inventory at home, you can begin by following these steps:
- Write out events in your life that caused pain to you or others.
- List the thoughts and beliefs that contributed to your actions during these situations.
- Take notice of any patterns in wrongdoings, thoughts, beliefs, and potential triggers for these situations.
Writing out a moral inventory can be challenging but integral to healing from addiction. The goal is not to judge yourself—it is just about seeing yourself honestly so you can learn from your mistakes as you move forward.
Common Moral Inventory Examples
If you find yourself prepared to start a moral inventory with an empty sheet of paper and no idea what to write, you may benefit from seeing some moral inventory examples. When you are stuck on beginning your moral inventory, think about a person, place, or situation that influences your life. These usually stress you out or tempt you to drink or use drugs. Some common examples are:
- Your current or former partner
- Your children
- Other family members
- Your boss
- Your social circle
- Your local bar
- Your financial situation
- Your coworkers or customers
- Your home environment
Start with one item off the list and think about times you have said or done something wrong. For many people, a current or former partner plays one of the most significant roles in their lives.
What to Expect from Your Moral Inventory
Some examples of what you may write in your moral inventory could be:
- Lying to your partner about where you were or who you were with at certain times
- Stealing money from your partner to buy alcohol or drugs
- Not helping with the household bills because you spent all your money on substances
- Hiding how much you were drinking
- Canceling plans with your partner because you were too intoxicated or hungover
- Not helping with child care because you were too impaired
These are just a few situations you could list on your moral inventory. Go through each person, place, or situation in your life and come up with times when you were not your best self. Then, notice certain habits that show up repeatedly, such as lying or showing disrespect. Once you identify character defects, you will have a starting ground for improvement.
Find 12-Step-Based Treatment for Addiction in Florida at My 5 Palms
If you are struggling with addiction, it is crucial to take a moral inventory to see your flaws and learn from them. This will help you move forward in recovery and make good decisions in the future. If you need help starting a moral inventory, our 12-step-based treatment for addiction is here to guide you. Contact My 5 Palms today at 1.844.675.1022 for the support you need to recover from addiction.
