Step 10. Daily inventory.

• “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Having worked through the foundational principles and steps – addressing denial, powerlessness, hope, sanity, surrender, inventory, confession and amends – you've likely experienced significant changes and healing. Now, as we enter Principle 7 and Step 10, we arrive at what might feel like a crossroads .

We've built a new foundation based on God's truth (John 8:32 TLB), but now comes the crucial task of maintaining that foundation and continuing to grow . Complacency is a danger; these next steps are not just about maintenance, but about intentionally choosing the path of ongoing recovery and spiritual development for the rest of our lives. This requires vigilance, as scripture warns: "if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!".

Step 10 provides a practical framework for ongoing growth and preventing relapse. It involves three key, interconnected actions:

• Continue Daily Inventory: Recovery requires ongoing Self-Awareness . Just as we did a thorough inventory in Step 4, Step 10 calls us to continue taking personal inventory, but now on a daily basis. This means regularly examining our actions, thoughts, feelings and motives throughout the day or at its end (Lamentations 3:40). It's about honestly assessing where we lived according to God's will and where we fell short.

• Evaluate Good and Bad Honestly: This daily inventory needs balance. We look honestly at where we were wrong ("when we were wrong"), acknowledging sins or shortcomings without making excuses. Denying sin at this stage hinders growth (1 John 1:8-10 TLB). However, it's equally important to acknowledge the good – where we acted rightly, showed kindness, resisted temptation, or experienced God's help. This balanced perspective prevents discouragement and reinforces positive change.

• Admit Wrongs Promptly: When the daily inventory reveals we've wronged someone (through action, word, or attitude), Step 10 requires prompt admission. This means making amends or offering an apology as soon as possible, ideally before resentment builds or the issue escalates (Matthew 5:23-24 MSG). Prompt

admission keeps our spiritual and relational accounts short, fostering peace and humility. This involves the life skill of taking Responsibility quickly.

Practising these three elements consistently helps us integrate the principles of recovery into the fabric of our daily lives.

Why is this ongoing inventory so crucial? Because recovery isn't a one-time fix; it's a new way of living that requires ongoing maintenance and attention. Step 10 acts like a daily course correction.

It prevents complacency by keeping us aware of our actions and motives. It stops small issues from snowballing into major problems or potential relapse triggers. It reinforces humility and dependence on God.

By promptly addressing wrongs, we maintain healthy relationships with God and others. Consistent Step 10 practice ensures that the hard-won progress from the earlier steps is not lost, but becomes the foundation for continued spiritual growth and maturity.

Chapter 19 introduced the necessity of Step 10 – continuing personal inventory and promptly admitting wrongs. This chapter delves deeper into the how of Principle 7 and Step 10, offering practical methods for making this ongoing self-examination a sustainable part of our lives.

The goal is to consistently apply what we've learned, living humbly in reality and allowing God's Word to guide our daily interactions. A helpful framework for this daily evaluation is the Great Commandment: loving God with all our heart, soul and mind and loving our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Are our daily actions reflecting this love?

There are several effective ways to practise ongoing inventory:

• Ongoing "Spot Checks": This involves developing moment-by-moment SelfAwareness or Mindfulness . Throughout the day, we pause periodically to check our thoughts, feelings, motives and actions. If we realise we've acted out of anger, fear, selfishness, or caused harm, we aim to admit it and make amends as soon as possible ("ASAP"). This prevents things from festering.

• Daily Review: This is a more structured check-in, usually done at the end of the day. It involves looking back over the day's events, interactions, successes and failures. Keeping a simple Journal is an excellent tool for this. We note where we might have harmed someone, acted out of negative emotions, or missed opportunities to show love, alongside acknowledging where we acted well or saw God's grace. This prepares us to make any necessary amends promptly the next day.

• Periodic Deeper Review: Every so often (e.g., quarterly), it's beneficial to take more extended time for reflection, perhaps a "mini-retreat". Reviewing daily journal entries from the preceding period helps identify recurring patterns, celebrate sustained victories and set intentions for areas needing continued focus, all guided by prayer. This involves the life skill of Planning for ongoing growth.

Principle 7 also emphasises grounding ourselves in God's Word and prayer. Integrating scripture focused on wise Communication can proactively help avoid needing to make amends as often: thinking before speaking (Proverbs 16:23 GNB),

using words that build others up (Ephesians 4:29 AB), being persuasive through pleasantness (Proverbs 16:21 GNB) and offering encouragement (Proverbs 12:25 TLB). Ultimately, our actions must be rooted in genuine love (1 Corinthians 13:1 TLB).

Regular inventory, using these methods, keeps us accountable and connected to reality. Ongoing spot checks prevent small issues from escalating. Daily reviews provide structure for reflection and ensure prompt amends. Periodic reviews offer valuable perspective on long-term patterns and progress. This consistent selfmonitoring, guided by the Great Commandment and scripture, helps us quickly identify when we're drifting back into old patterns or attitudes. It reinforces humility, dependence on God and the continuous need for His grace, making sustained recovery and spiritual growth possible.