Introduction

(a) Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, (b) the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our (c) decision was a vital and crucial step, (d) it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in our selves which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.

Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory. This was step four. (f) A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. (g) Taking a commercial inventory is a fact-finding and fact-facing process. It is an effort to discover the truth about the stock-in-trade. (h) One object is to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret. (f) If the owner of a business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself about values.

(i) We did exactly the same thing with our lives. We took stock honestly. (j) First, we searched out the flaws in our make-up which caused our failure. Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, (k) we considered its common manifestations. (end Big Book text)

Workshop notes:
Reading the 12 & 12, page 46 we see that we will end up with a list of our assets and our liabilities, "but" (j) First we will search out the flaws in our makeup which caused our failure
by-
1. Analyzing Our Resentments,
2. Reviewing our fears,
3. Reviewing Our Sex Conduct
And: Finding Our Faults.
We will see how this unfolds as our moral inventory as we go along.

a- a course of vigorous action- refers to steps-4,5,6,7,8,&9

b- first step of which refers to- step 4

c- our decision- step 3

d- if we don't follow our decision in step 3 with steps 4,5,6,7,8 & 9 the results are temporary

f- substitute the word business with the word- life

g- substitute the word commercial with the words- step four

h- one object? the 12 & 12 tells us there are two objects, assets and liabilities- 2nd. paragraph, page 46

j- we are going to finish up with a list of our assets and liabilities, but first we will analyze resentments, review fears and review sex conduct

k- the common manifestations of self we will consider are- resentments, fears and sex conduct

i-It is suggested we are to take inventory exactly as a business does.