A Walk through the 12-Steps: Step 4

Steps 1, 2, and 3 lay the foundation for this fourth step. Without the spiritual basis formed in the first three steps, a searching moral inventory can quickly become a means of self-abuse. If we are not ready to use this fourth step without fear, then we need to go back to the first three steps, and rework them.

These steps are a means of positive change, and are not intended to create guilt or damage our self-esteem. They allow us to observe ourselves as we are, see through our illusions, take care of unresolved issues from the past, make choices and recognize where to turn to for strength, support, and guidance.

Those of us with fibromyalgia must be willing to take a hard and honest look at ourselves and the circumstances around us. The only person who we can change is ourselves, and by looking at ourselves as we are now, we can discover new things that help us to feel that our lives do not revolve around our FMS. Our fibromyalgia is a part of us, but when it becomes the main focus of our existence, then we are missing out on the joy and pleasure of living our lives to the fullest extent.

Although it can be frightening to sit quietly and look carefully at ourselves, step 4 can create wonderful opportunities to move our lives into a more positive direction. Until we know exactly who and what we are all about, we cannot know where we are headed.

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