The first thing that I think of control in relation to the steps is surrender. Surrender is considered as one of the important spiritual principles behind step 1. Trying to control people, places, and things in active addiction and not getting our desired results leads to resentments which fuel the destructive machine of addiction. When we admit in step one, that we don’t have all the answers and that our way doesn’t work, we are ready to surrender. Only once we surrender, will we be ready to revolutionize our way of life and undergo the spiritual transformation outlined in the twelve steps. Look at the ways that your controlling nature has run your life into the ground and if you are honest with yourself, you may be ready to let go of control and start the first step of AA.