Moral Inventory: Lessons from AA

I am not sure why more people ignore reading the “Big Book” of Alcoholic’s Anonymous. It is a treasure trove of wisdom, self-knowledge, and redemption. Any one can take up reading it—even if you are not an alcoholic. Indeed there is something for everyone in it pages. I plan on writing a series of reflections on the book and invite others to take up reading it with me in the coming weeks.

For now, I will recall for you that step 4 of the 12 steps is about making a fearless and searching moral inventory of the self. Is there anything more important for a leader with power in business, religion, politics, education, family etc. to do? Power is so easily protected. Our fragile egos are master storytellers making room for all of our shortcomings. Our lives impact others for good or ill—by nature. Therefore a moral inventory, as hard as is it to look oneself in the mirror, is a powerful technique for personal and by consequence social/institutional health.

If you are bold enough, buy the book and read it—then check into this blog for frequent musings on each step and their depth of wisdom!