Fear Inventory Worksheet: Free Printable PDF
A fear inventory is the second part of Step Four: you write down your fears, ask why you have each one, and see where trusting yourself has let you down. The book covers it on pages 67–68 of Alcoholics Anonymous (fourth edition).
This worksheet gives you the prompts and a table to fill in. Do it right after your resentment inventory, and go over it with your sponsor.
Download free PDFFree. No email, no sign-up. A printable PDF, letter size: how it works, an example, prompts, and a full page table.
How it works
- My fear: one fear per row. Losing a job, being alone, being found out, money, my health, what people think, God.
- Why I have it: what's underneath it. Usually it's that I've been relying on myself, and I know I'm not enough.
- What it touches: self-esteem, security, ambitions, personal relations or sex relations. The same parts of self as the resentment inventory.
- What I'll do instead: the faith step. What would trusting God look like here? One small action you can take.
Example
| My fear | Why I have it | What it touches | What I'll do instead (faith) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running out of money | I've always tried to fix money by working angles. I don't trust that I'll be cared for. | Security, self-esteem | Make an honest budget with my wife. Pray about it each morning. Do the next right thing at work. |
The first row is an example. The PDF has 0 blank rows to fill in.
Questions to find your fears
- What am I afraid will happen if I stay sober? If I don't?
- What am I afraid people will find out about me?
- What do I worry about at 3 a.m.?
- Where have I tried to control things because I was scared?
My fear inventory
| My fear | Why I have it | What it touches | What I'll do instead (faith) |
|---|---|---|---|
The PDF has 15 blank rows to fill in.
A prayer when fear comes back
God, You know what I'm afraid of.
Take this fear, and show me who You want me to be.
I don't have to carry this alone.
Give me the next right thing to do,
and the courage to do it. Amen.
How to use it
- Read pages 67–68 of your own copy first.
- Answer the questions to bring your fears to the surface.
- List each fear in the table, then fill in why, what it touches, and what you'll do instead.
- When fear comes back during the day, say the prayer and do the action you wrote down.
- Go over it with your sponsor, then move on to the harms inventory.
Scripture to go with it
“…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Based on the fear inventory in the 1939 first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. Page numbers are from the fourth edition. The prompts, example and prayer are our own. Steps & Scripture is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
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Common questions
What is a fear inventory?
It's the part of Step Four where you list your fears, ask why you have each one, and look at how relying on yourself has failed you. Then you ask God to take the fear and show you what to do instead.
Where is the fear inventory in the book?
On pages 67–68 of Alcoholics Anonymous, fourth edition, right after the resentment inventory.
What if I can't think of any fears?
Look at your resentment inventory. Most anger has fear under it. The questions on this sheet also help. Your sponsor can help you find more.
Do I share this with anyone?
Yes. It's part of what you read in Step Five, to God and to your sponsor or another trusted person.
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