Damien G – What did we discover about ourselves while sharing our inventory?Damien G – What did we discover about ourselves while sharing our inventory?
SoberQ
Damien reflects on what he learned about himself while sharing a full Step Four and Five inventory with his sponsor, including painful truths and unexpected relief. He describes how willingness, honesty and support helped him continue with the 12 steps and strengthen his sobriety.
5:10•22 Feb 2026
Damien G on Step Five, Brutal Honesty and Finding Courage in Inventory
Episode Overview
- Working closely with a sponsor from the start of the big book helped Damien understand what he was suffering from and why the 12 steps were vital.
- Genuine willingness, which he hadn’t had in previous attempts, was a key change that allowed him to complete a thorough inventory.
- Writing about sex, relationships and harm done to others revealed painful truths about the impact of his behaviour on loved ones.
- Sharing his full inventory with nothing held back brought relief and a sense that he was not uniquely bad or alone.
- Supportive feedback from his sponsor gave him courage to continue with the remaining steps and stay committed to recovery.
“"I could look him in the eye honestly and say, no, I've given you all of it... I'm not holding anything back."”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? Damien G brings one of those raw, honest stories to SoberQ, answering the question: *"What did we discover about ourselves while sharing our inventory?"* Damien, a member of the Blaxland Primary Purpose Group and sober since November 2011, talks through his experience of doing a thorough Step Four and Five with a sponsor, after years of half-hearted attempts at Alcoholics Anonymous.
He admits that this time something was different: he’d finally gained a level of willingness he’d never had before, and that shift changed everything. You’ll hear him describe how working through the big book from the very start helped him understand what he was really suffering from, and why making his best effort with the 12 steps felt like his “only chance of survival.” The inventory wasn’t pretty.
Damien speaks about the “chunks of truth” he uncovered, especially around sex and relationships, and the painful realisation of the harm he’d caused people close to him. At one point, he jokes grimly that if anyone treated his loved ones the way he had, he’d be “tempted to kill them with my bare hands.” Yet this isn’t a story of shame; it’s about relief and connection.
Sharing everything with his sponsor – even the bits that felt like “vomiting the words out” – led to a powerful moment where he could honestly say, “I’m not holding anything back.” His sponsor’s response, and unexpected semi-hug, brought a surge of courage and a sense that he wasn’t uniquely broken after all. This short, straight-to-the-point episode is ideal if you’re working on your own inventory, stalling on Step Five, or just curious how someone moves from terror to honesty.
It might leave you asking: what truth about yourself are you finally ready to put on paper?
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