Before recovery, I didn’t exactly notice when I had slipped into trying to control another human being. I didn’t think of it as control; all of my behavior seemed perfectly reasonable to me. Other people clearly needed me to pay attention to and manage their activities.

But this behavior eventually causes strain and pain. When I’m controlling someone else, I’m probably neglecting something important to my own life, and I’m certainly undercutting someone else’s progress or responsibility. When I control others at work, I hinder their achievements and take on more than I can handle.

Today, I will watch myself to see if I’m straying out of my lane at work. If I find myself controlling others, I will tell my sponsor or a program friend. I will ask my Higher Power what to do next with this awareness, and I will look for the areas in my own work life that need my attention.