True Perspective

Before recovery my life felt impossibly overwhelming. Every problem seemed insurmountable. Every difficulty felt permanent. Every mistake proved I was fundamentally inadequate. I had no perspective – just drowning in crisis after crisis with no ability to see any of it clearly.

An open mind helped me put my life and problems in their true perspective. This is what Step Four has done for me. Writing things down putting them on paper looking at them honestly – this created perspective I couldn't access while I was just spinning in my head.

When I see my resentments listed on a page I can see which ones are current and which ones I've been carrying for twenty years. When I see my fears written out I can see which ones are about real dangers and which ones are catastrophic thinking. When I examine my behavior patterns I can see which situations trigger my character defects.

The open mind is essential. If I come to Step Four with my mind already made up about what's wrong with me I won't gain perspective – I'll just confirm my existing judgments. But if I come with genuine openness willing to be surprised by what I discover then perspective emerges. I see my life and problems in their true proportion. Not minimizing not catastrophizing. Just seeing clearly.

I can approach my inventory with genuine curiosity today, as if I'm discovering things about myself for the first time. What if I'm surprised by what I find? What if some problems are smaller than I thought and some patterns are different than I believed? Open mind creates perspective that judgment blocks.