I recently had the oppertunity to attend a step clinic given by a man 33 years sober. His comment was that we actually only do one 4th and fifth step we do how ever do a continuation of this when the need arises. It is very important to realize we are never done working the steps there is no diploma or graduation it is a life long process. I did my 4th and 5th at 5 months sober. At the time my sponsor had me start on the 4th at 3 onths. I then carried it around until i was severely angry at the world and having thoughts of drinking again. Sponsor strongly suggested that i get off my ass and do the fifth. This was the true beginning of a serene and humble life. I had never felt so free from guilt shame and resentment it was and still is a true spiritual awakening that allowed me to feel close to my higher power and not scared to let him know i was here. I suggest that anyone on there fourth jump in and get it and the fifth done. After all the big book says that those who do not do this step thorough and complete probably wont make it. I compare the feeling during and after the hour of meditation and thought following the completion of this to when i was baptised at age 12.

For me the 4th step scared the hell out of me. Then when I finished that I realized that the 5th step was worst. When I finished the 5th step I was very scared of the 9th step.

Then I was worried of the 10th step. After that I realized that doing the steps was nothing it is teaching the steps to a sponsee that would be tough.

Today, I am worried about making admends again.

Do it one step at a time.

I try to do these steps on a regular basis. They have become a way of life for me. If I have a problem with someone I take care of it right away so it doesn't fester. That will lead to drinking. I also see a therapist and that helps me with these steps also.

i did my 4th step after i had been in AA 6 mnths then not long after my 5th as my sponcer told me you only do one 4th and 5th step once i hated it but i did it for me today i work my steps on a daily basis and having worked the steps to the best of my ablity i have peace of mind ,and today i know i have a higher power that looks after me if i hand over my will to him every day today i live in the solution and not the problem
and 23yrs now since i had my last drink they say it works IF YOU WORK IT

One of the suggestions my sponsor gave me that helped a lot, was to write the following statement at the top of my 4th step, so that when I began to fall into victim mode I could read it come back to reality....."At some point in our lives we made decisions based on self that eventually placed us in the position to get hurt." Today, I try to live the steps, a daily 10 suffices for me not to have to do another 4th... I also do not believe in beating dead horses or sifting through the ashes.