Selfishness / Self-CenterednessSelfishness / Self-Centeredness
RAW Recovery Podcast
Dion talks candidly about selfishness and self‑centredness in recovery, weaving AA Big Book readings with stories of family healing and higher power. The conversation blends humour and raw honesty to show how fear, karma and Step Three shape a sober, less self‑focused life.
40:35•26 Sept 2026
Self-Centred Thinking, Karma and Bitching Camaros in Recovery
Episode Overview
- Self‑centred thinking, rooted in fear, is presented as a key source of trouble for alcoholics, echoing page 62 of the AA Big Book.
- Children quietly observe and often copy a parent’s behaviour, making visible change in recovery crucial for family healing.
- Rebuilding relationships with children can take time but may lead to powerful moments of joy and affirmation, such as heartfelt cards or words.
- Viewing higher power in flexible, personal terms can help people move away from harsh, fear‑based religious messages toward something that fits them.
- Step Three is framed as the most critical decision in the programme, shifting from playing God to letting a higher power direct life.
“"Our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making… Well, that's good news. Because you're the one thing you can change."”
What drives someone to seek a life less centred on "me"? This RAW Recovery Podcast episode zooms in on selfishness and self‑centred thinking as described in the AA Big Book, with Dion unpacking how these patterns show up in everyday sober life. You’ll hear Dion move from light-hearted chat about his cats, punk music and “bitching camaros” into some very raw reflections on family and repair.
He talks about how children quietly watch everything a parent does, and how his own kids “were checking my Facebook” as he changed in front of them. A birthday card from his son in college – "Dad, you can't imagine how glad I am everything is ok" – becomes a powerful example of how sobriety can shift desperate tears into tears of joy.
The heart of the episode is Dion reading and reacting to page 62 of the Big Book, where “self‑centeredness… is the root of our troubles.” He breaks down fear as the driver behind self‑delusion, self‑seeking and self‑pity, and jokes about being “the star of my own show” and “master of the universe” in his head, while honestly admitting how that thinking harmed him and others.
There’s plenty of humour, but it sits alongside clear messages about karma, responsibility, and why blaming everyone else never really works. Dion also tackles higher power questions in a down‑to‑earth way, stressing that "if God is everything, then he can be anything, to anyone, at any time" and encouraging people to find a concept of God that actually fits them.
Step Three, he says, is the decision that changes everything – not a religious ceremony, but a shift from playing God to letting something bigger guide the show. If you’ve ever wondered whether your recovery has drifted back into “all about me” thinking, this honest, funny and heartfelt chat might be just the nudge you need to look beyond yourself for a change.
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