“Resentment is the “number one” offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.” — Alcoholics Anonymous (1939) · Chapter 5 · How It Works
From the Fourth Step instructions in Chapter 5, where the book explains why the inventory begins with resentment before anything else.
Resentment is the drink before the drink. It rents space in your head, pays nothing, and burns the place down. The inventory isn’t about deciding who was wrong — it’s about getting the poison out on paper, where it loses its grip. If someone is living rent-free in your head today, write their name down. Then ask what it’s costing you to keep the case open.
Step 4 · Inventory