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Self-Will Run Riot: The Big Book Guide to the Root of Our Troubles

A calm forest stream flowing around steady rocks, symbolizing the shift from forced control to spiritual flow. Unity for Recovery series.

"Selfishness—self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles." — Page 62


We have found a way out of our drinking problem.

We discovered that our biggest struggle wasn’t just the bottle—it was the way we were thinking. We found that "self-will run riot" was the engine behind our fear, resentment, and isolation.


In our recovery, we eventually had to face a hard truth: we were like the actor who wants to run the whole show. We were forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, and the scenery to our own liking. We believed that if only people would do as we wished, the show would be great and we would be happy. When the show didn't suit us, we became angry, resentful, and fearful. This self-centeredness wasn't because we were "bad" people; it was a coping mechanism—a way we tried to feel safe in a world that felt out of our control.

The Architecture of Self-Centeredness

The Big Book explains that most people try to live by self-propulsion. For us, this meant an extreme reliance on our own limited thinking. We found that when we were "running the show," we were in constant collision with something or somebody, even when our motives were seemingly good. We lived by these destructive patterns:

  • Unspoken Expectations: We expected others to read our minds and meet our needs, then felt victimized when they didn't.
  • Emotional Extremes: We focused entirely on our own "hurt" pride or "damaged" ego, leaving no room to see the struggles of those around us.
  • The Control Illusion: We tried to manipulate outcomes through people-pleasing, anger, or withdrawal, only to find our lives becoming more unmanageable.
"So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so."

— Alcoholics Anonymous, Page 62

Moving from Reaction to Spiritual Action

We discovered that we couldn't just "think" our way out of being self-centered. As the book suggests, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. By working the Steps and following the 1939 blueprint, we began to trade our old reactions for a new design for living. We moved from Fearful Reaction to Principled Action:

The Self-Will Reaction The Spiritual Action
Blaming others for our emotional state. Looking at our own part (Step 4 & 10 Inventory).
Trying to force a specific result through manipulation. Practicing acceptance and trust (Step 3 Surrender).
Holding onto old resentments and "justified" anger. Seeking to be of maximum service to others (Step 12).

The Daily Discipline of Letting Go

We found that this isn't a one-time event; it is a daily discipline. As we become more aware of our "actor" tendencies, we learn to pause. We ask for the strength to do the next right thing. We realized that as our self-centered thinking decreases, our emotional stability grows. We are no longer burning up energy trying to arrange the universe to suit our whims. Instead, we have found a freedom we never thought possible—the freedom of being at peace with the world as it is.

Build Your Foundation at Unity for Recovery:

Maximum Service: AA Resources

To be of maximum service to those seeking to move from self-will to a spiritual foundation, we point toward these primary resources:

Unity for Recovery is independently operated and dedicated to the uncompromised 12-Step message.

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