Money Inventory
The Sex Inventory is the only "conduct" inventory in the Big Book's Step 4 directions. It is followed by the creation of a sex ideal.
However, the inventory-to-ideal process can be used for other conduct, e.g. money, work, food etc..
As an example, the following text in purple is pages 68-69 of the Big Book, re-voiced to address money, followed by the creation of a financial ideal. Wording that varies from the original text is in italics and bold. You might re-voice it very differently!
Now about money. Most of us needed an overhauling there. But above all we tried to be sensible on this question.
It's so easy to get way off the track. Here we find human opinions running to extremes - absurd extremes, perhaps. One set of voices cry that money is a need of our materialistic nature, part of the conflict-ridden drudgery and burdensome responsibility of existence. Then we have the voices who cry for spending and more spending; who bewail the wisdom of saving, paying bills, being responsible; who insist that most of the troubles of human history are traceable to money causes. They think we never can have enough to really enjoy life. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow a person no frivolity or financial risk, and the other would have us all on a regular shopping spree: spend, invest, capitalize, buy, sell, trade today for tomorrow we may die.
We want to stay out of controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone's financial conduct or decisions. We all have financial problems. We'd hardly be human if we didn't.
What can we do about them?
We reviewed our own financial conduct and attitudes over the years.
Channeling Financial Resources and Energy towards God's Will
In this way, we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future financial life. We subjected each expenditure to this test - was it selfish or not?
We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.
We remember always that God is either everything or God is nothing, that money belongs to God and is therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed.
Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we write it down and possibly discuss it with others. We must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat money as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God for knowledge of His will for each specific matter.
The right answer will come, if we want it. That's a promise!
God alone can judge our financial situation. Council with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. We realize that some people are as tight with money as others are loose. We avoid hysterical thinking or advice.
Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk or loaded?
Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, conscious of our self-will, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry and our conduct continues to cause harm, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience. (As they say in the rooms, "romance and finance...")
To sum up about finances: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing, if money is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves. It quiets the imperious urge, when to yield would mean financial fear, insecurity, and separation from God as we understand God.
The Sex Inventory is the only "conduct" inventory in the Big Book's Step 4 directions. It is followed by the creation of a sex ideal.
However, the inventory-to-ideal process can be used for other conduct, e.g. money, work, food etc..
As an example, the following text in purple is pages 68-69 of the Big Book, re-voiced to address money, followed by the creation of a financial ideal. Wording that varies from the original text is in italics and bold. You might re-voice it very differently!
Now about money. Most of us needed an overhauling there. But above all we tried to be sensible on this question.
It's so easy to get way off the track. Here we find human opinions running to extremes - absurd extremes, perhaps. One set of voices cry that money is a need of our materialistic nature, part of the conflict-ridden drudgery and burdensome responsibility of existence. Then we have the voices who cry for spending and more spending; who bewail the wisdom of saving, paying bills, being responsible; who insist that most of the troubles of human history are traceable to money causes. They think we never can have enough to really enjoy life. They see its significance everywhere. One school would allow a person no frivolity or financial risk, and the other would have us all on a regular shopping spree: spend, invest, capitalize, buy, sell, trade today for tomorrow we may die.
We want to stay out of controversy. We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone's financial conduct or decisions. We all have financial problems. We'd hardly be human if we didn't.
What can we do about them?
We reviewed our own financial conduct and attitudes over the years.
- Where had we been selfish?
- Where had we been self-seeking?
- Where had we been dishonest?
- Where had we been afraid?
- Whom had we hurt? (e.g. by stealing, withholding, being cheap, controlling, indulging, etc.)
- Did we feel or unjustifiably arouse jealousy, suspicion, or bitterness due to finances?
- What might we have done financially instead?
Channeling Financial Resources and Energy towards God's Will
In this way, we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future financial life. We subjected each expenditure to this test - was it selfish or not?
We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them.
We remember always that God is either everything or God is nothing, that money belongs to God and is therefore good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and loathed.
Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we write it down and possibly discuss it with others. We must be willing to grow toward it. We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about more harm in so doing. In other words, we treat money as we would any other problem. In meditation, we ask God for knowledge of His will for each specific matter.
The right answer will come, if we want it. That's a promise!
God alone can judge our financial situation. Council with persons is often desirable, but we let God be the final judge. We realize that some people are as tight with money as others are loose. We avoid hysterical thinking or advice.
Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are going to get drunk or loaded?
Some people tell us so. But this is only a half-truth. It depends on us and on our motives. If we are sorry for what we have done, conscious of our self-will, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. If we are not sorry and our conduct continues to cause harm, we are quite sure to drink. We are not theorizing. These are facts out of our experience. (As they say in the rooms, "romance and finance...")
To sum up about finances: We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing, if money is very troublesome, we throw ourselves the harder into helping others. We think of their needs and work for them. This takes us out of ourselves. It quiets the imperious urge, when to yield would mean financial fear, insecurity, and separation from God as we understand God.
