“Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well?” (Chapter 5, Big Book)
The ego suggests I make plans for outcomes, on the basis that those outcomes will make me happy.
There are two possible results: (1) I get the outcome and I am not happy (2) I do not get the outcome and I am unhappy. The choice is: not happy or unhappy. That’s not much of a choice.
The programme offers me complete abandonment of self.
There is no outcome to be realised; only action to take, and the joy resides in the action.