Until I found a good sponsor and shared all my problems with him, my sobriety was still precarious. I kept going around in circles and getting back to same spot I was in. The AA book says that even though my motives were good, I was still selfish and self-centred. I found my conversation, when I monitored it carefully was always prefaced with "me" and "I".
Just as I finished with my sponsor, my conversation turned to: "How are you today; Are you feeling well; Can I help; Can I take you to a meeting etc." The principles in the "Just for today" card started to materialise.
Nowadays when I get spiritually sick, I immediately see that "self" has returned.
Self returned because I did nothing in my day to combat self. I have to wilfully start to do unselfish things. This is were will power comes in handy. It requires all my will to do the steps.