October 06 Self-will - Transitions Daily Alcohol Recovery Readings PodcastOctober 06 Self-will - Transitions Daily Alcohol Recovery Readings Podcast
Transitions Daily Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Readings Podcast
A short daily AA reading focuses on self-will, pride, excuses and fear, tying together classic Alcoholics Anonymous texts. Cindy L. shares reflections, questions and prayers aimed at helping people who are serious about sobriety reflect on control, humility and willingness to change.
6:16•6 Oct 2026
Letting Go of Self-Will: Daily AA Readings for 6 October
Episode Overview
- Self-will and the urge to control people and situations are shown as major blocks to a stable and sober life.
- Pride and the desire to be the centre of attention can limit group growth and deny newer members a chance to serve.
- Many alcoholics become experts at self-justification, turning almost any circumstance into an excuse to drink.
- A moral inventory often feels terrifying beforehand, but the fear is usually bigger than the reality of doing the work.
- Faith in an unseen God, combined with willingness, is presented as a route to real change and a more useful life.
“The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This short daily episode from Transitions Daily focuses on a theme that hits home for many in recovery: self-will and the chaos it creates. Read by Cindy L. from Fort Worth, Texas, the episode strings together classic Alcoholics Anonymous readings into a compact, no-frills burst of experience and wisdom.
You’ll hear the Big Book’s blunt warning that “any life run on self-will can hardly be a success”, along with the wry reminder from Rule 62: “Don’t take yourself too damn seriously.” The tone stays honest and down-to-earth, with just enough humour to keep things from feeling too heavy. The readings move through several angles on the same problem: pride, excuses and fear.
There’s a sharp look at how alcoholics can become “pretty ridiculous individual[s] directing everything”, convinced they should run the whole show. Another section tackles the “fine art of alibis”, where every life situation becomes a reason to drink, whether times are good, bad, lonely or overwhelming. For anyone doing step work, the reflection on a “searching and fearless moral inventory” may ring especially true.
One writer shares how the fear of facing themselves kept them stuck, only to find that “the illusion was greater than the reality” once they actually did the work. The episode closes with questions about ego in service: are you trying to be a big shot in AA, or are you willing to sit in the back row and let others grow?
A short meditation and prayer emphasise faith, humility and the belief that change is possible with a power greater than yourself. If you’re pressed for time but want a daily reminder of why sobriety matters, this kind of bite-sized reading might be exactly the nudge you need today—what part of self-will could you afford to loosen your grip on?
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