Living Every Day with Hope
April 15th – The Fourth Step: A Writing Exercise
“The Twelve Steps of Marijuana Anonymous are to be lived, not just discussed in meetings.”
– Life with Hope, second edition, page 43
When I first approached the Fourth Step, I spent much time talking about it, but little time actually writing. I took a piece of paper and wrote, “This is my Fourth Step” at the top and then promptly put the paper away. I sure talked a good game at meetings, but I did not work the Step.
Finally, my defects caused enough pain and I was able to work this Step. The majority of my work on the Fourth Step occurred on a long Saturday afternoon when I just wrote and wrote. I did additional work on it. I looked at my resentments, my fears and my sexual conduct. I put pen to paper. I had to keep reminding myself that this was my inventory, NOT the other person’s!
It was hard work and brought up many feelings and reminded me of things I had forgotten. I was as fearless and thorough as possible. Soon after I took the Fifth Step with my sponsor, the closeness to Higher Power I felt at that point was beyond belief.
Final thought: Today, I will actively work the Steps, and not just talk about them at a meeting!
Living Every Day with Hope – Copyright © 2025 Marijuana Anonymous World Services. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Marijuana Anonymous groups have been granted limited permission to quote Living Every Day with Hope.
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