Indie developer James Hollender has two apps to help 12-Steppers do their Moral Inventory, one for iPad and another for iPhone or iPod touch. The Life Inventory apps may be complex, but once understood are amazing. These apps guide users in creating their own Life Inventory, another term for Moral Inventory, which can provide greater self understanding of personality, strengths and weaknesses leading to a better quality of life. These apps allow the user to learn more about themselves than ever thought possible and at only a small fraction the cost of a single visit to a therapist.
"I have put a number of hours of work into using this app and can now say that I love it. At first, the interface was overwhelming. I had trouble getting my head around all the categories and how they fit together. The user has to understand that what has been done here is taking an idea that was once clumsily used as a spreadsheet and transformed it into a true database application. Once I read all of the directions and dove in, it became clearer. I believe the developer has made an amazing product that covers most anyone's needs to do a complete and thorough 4th and 5th step. I have hundreds of entries and being able to sort and search at a glance is not only wonderful, it really allows you to get more out of the process than writing it all on paper would. Privacy is a big concern for me and I feel that it is well addressed here. If you're doing your 4th step right, it will take some time. The backup and privacy features allow me to be completely honest.
"Try that with paper. If you don't like it, try getting someone to design a custom database for you that allows the end user to further customize for under $10."
Both the iPad and iPhone/iPod touch versions accomplish exactly the same thing, only the interface is considerably different for each because of the significant differences in screen size.
The process of completing a Life Inventory does not directly address anyone's specific problems, habits or addictions, but rather helps the user examine in detail events that have transpired in their life. The Life Inventory apps gently assists the user in probing into not only what happened, but also why it happened. The questions asked help the user delve into areas often never considered before, like:
* What did I want?
* Why did I want it?
* What am I not admitting?
* What lie did I tell myself?
* What did I leave out or not say?
* What lie did I tell others?
* Have I ever done the same thing?
* Was it any of my business?
* Were my expectations reasonable?
* What was the real truth?
* What was I not seeing?
* Did I fail to see the facts of the situation?
* What actions did I take to get what I wanted?
* What actions did I omit to get what I wanted?
Life Inventory guides the user through six different steps, each with its own activity grouping, for making a Life Inventory:
* Build Lists
* Causes and Effects
* My Part
* Fears Analysis
* Fear Questions
* Sex Relations
Throughout the process, users are encouraged to enter data into their Inventory, be completely honest about themselves and take advantage of encouragement and support.
The Inventory begins by making one simple list, which defines four fixed Categories in which to file away what are broadly categorized as Incidents:
* People
* Institutions and Organizations
* Principles, Ideals and Beliefs
* Sources of Anxiety and Excitement
Each of the four Categories will contain hierarchical sub-categories. From there, users outline Entities and then individual Incidents related each Entity.
Step-by-step, users complete the Causes and Effects of each Incident. Next, users determine the part they played in each Incident listed. It is not unusual to create hundreds of Incident forms, each devoted to a single incident. The app includes the ability to create and save all written lists and forms with password protection. Having completed all their Incident forms, users can refer to these forms to help list all their Fears. The app includes the following eight pre-defined fears, to which the user is free to add:
* Other people's opinions
* Not getting what I want
* Not having control of the situation
* Financial insecurity
* Abandonment
* Physical harm
* Failure
* Success
The fifth step is examining each Fear category and answering the following key questions:
* Why did I have this fear?
* When did I first notice this fear in my life?
* How did I hold on to this fear?
* What did this fear make me do?
* What chain of circumstances did this fear set in motion in my life?
* How did I react to this fear?
* What decision did this fear cause me to make?
* How did self-reliance fail me?
* What should I have done instead?
And the sixth and final step is examining Sex Relations, where users answer all the following questions regarding each of their sexual relationships:
* How was I selfish?
* Where was I dishonest?
* Where was I inconsiderate?
* Who was hurt in this situation?
* Did I arouse jealousy, suspicion, or bitterness?
* Where was I at fault?
* What should I have done instead?
* What will I do in the future?
* Did I pray or have spiritual conversations with him/her?
* Did I pray for him/her?
* Did I enjoy his/her company?
* Did we bring each other closer to God?
"The process of completing a Life Inventory doesn't directly address anyone's specific problems, habits or addictions, but rather helps the user examine in detail events that have transpired in their life," stated indie developer James Hollender. "The Life Inventory app gently assists the user in probing into not only what happened, but also why it happened." James Hollender is also the author of a suite of Nutrient apps based on the USDA National Nutrient Database:
* iCarbs (Carbohydrates)
* iCholesterol (Dietary Cholesterol)
* iFiber (Fiber)
* iKals (Calories)
* iProteins (Proteins)
* iSatFat (Saturated Fat)
* iSodium (Sodium)
* iSugars (Sugars)
* Vitamin K (Vitamins K1, K1D & K2)
Just recently released is the iNutrients app, featured at MacWorld, which provides an easy way for users to record and track what they eat and be provided with information for 10 nutrients, the same nine listed above plus Potassium. Built right into the app is the entire USDA National Nutrient Database for all 10 nutrients. No Internet access is required so the searches are lightning fast. Privacy of the user's information is important so all data is kept on the device. The iNutrients app, and all the other nutrient apps, are universal apps which work on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.