4Th Step Worksheet - Free Printable

This worksheet is a tool for self-reflection, often used in recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (specifically Step 4). It helps you look at past hurts or "resentments" to understand your own part in them.

Since this is a personal exercise, there is no single "correct" answer like in math. Instead, I will show you how to fill it out using a common, hypothetical example. You can use this pattern to fill in your own real-life situations.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out the Worksheet

The worksheet has four columns. Here is how to approach each one:

Column 1: I'm Resentful at:
* What to do: Write down the name of a person, institution, or principle that you are angry with or hurt by.
* *Example:* Let's say you are angry at a former boss named "Mr. Smith."

Column 2: The Cause:
* What to do: Briefly explain why you are resentful. What did they do?
* *Example:* "He fired me from my job even though I worked hard."

Column 3: Affects My... (Which Part of Self is Affected):
* What to do: Look at the list provided in the header (Self Esteem, Security Instinct, Personal Relationships, etc.). Check which ones were hurt by the event in Column 2.
* *Example:* Being fired hurts your Security Instinct (because you lost money/job) and your Self Esteem (because it feels like a rejection of your worth).

Column 4: What is the exact nature of my wrongs...?
* What to do: This is the hardest but most important part. Instead of focusing on what *they* did wrong, look at your own behavior. Did you act selfishly? Were you dishonest? Were you afraid?
* *Example:* Even if being fired was unfair, you might realize: "I was self-seeking because I only cared about my paycheck, not the company's goals," or "I was dishonest because I didn't tell my boss when I made mistakes earlier in the year."

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Example Entry (Hypothetical)

Here is how Row 1 might look if you were filling it out based on the example above:

| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| I'm Resentful at: | The Cause: | Affects My: | My Wrongs/Faults: |
| Mr. Smith (Old Boss) | He fired me from my job. | [x] Security Instinct<br>[x] Self Esteem | I was selfish and only focused on my own needs. I was dishonest about my errors. |

How to Continue

To finish the homework assignment:
1. Think of 5 different people or situations that still bother you.
2. Write their names in Column 1.
3. Write why they bother you in Column 2.
4. Identify which parts of your life/feelings were hurt in Column 3.
5. Honestly look for your own role in the situation in Column 4.

Final Answer:
[This is a personal reflection worksheet with no single correct answer. To complete it, follow the example above: List a person you are resentful toward in Column 1, the reason in Column 2, check which instincts (like security or esteem) were hurt in Column 3, and identify your own character defects (like selfishness or fear) in Column 4.]