To be willful is to be full of will. This willfulness leads to self-centeredness, control madness, dramatic extremes and to willing what cannot be willed (unreality). Willfulness has no boundaries. Such willfulness is the core of all addictions. All addicts are ultimately addicted to their own wills. In AA this is expressed as “I want what I want when I want it.” It is also referred to as “self-will run riot.” Addiction to one’s own will is the way that toxic shame causes spiritual bankruptcy. This is why spiritual healing is necessary when it comes to healing the syndromes of toxic shame.
