Spot-Check Inventory: Catching It in the Moment
A spot-check inventory is a quick check you do in the moment, any time during the day, when you notice something is off. You feel your jaw tighten in traffic, or you snap at a coworker, or fear starts running the show. Instead of waiting until night, you stop right then and look at what’s happening inside you.
How to do one
It takes less than a minute:
- Pause. Don’t speak or send that email yet.
- Name it. “I’m angry.” “I’m scared.” “I’m trying to look good.”
- Ask what’s yours. What part of this is my own selfishness, fear or pride?
- Pray. “God, take this. Show me what to do next.”
- Fix it fast. If you hurt someone, say so now: “I was short with you. I’m sorry.”
The spot check belongs to Step 10, which carries the habit of honest self-examination into everyday life. It keeps small wrongs from growing into big resentments, and big resentments are a common road back to a drink.
People who practice it say it changes their relationships. Quick, plain apologies build more trust than long explanations later.
What Scripture says
Paul told believers not to let the sun go down on their anger. Deal with it the same day.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
A spot check is one way to obey that. It’s also a prayer: asking God for help right in the middle of a hard moment, not only on your knees at night.
Practice today
Pick one moment today when you feel irritated. Run the five steps. Then read Step 10.
Common questions
How is a spot check different from a nightly review?
A spot check happens in the middle of the day, right when you notice trouble. A nightly review looks back over the whole day before bed. Many people do both.
What if I can't apologize right away?
Then pray, make a note, and do it as soon as it's wise. The point is not letting the wrong sit and harden.
Do I need to tell my sponsor about every spot check?
No. But if the same thing keeps coming up, that pattern is worth bringing to your sponsor.
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