Willingness in the Big Book

It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself.

Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend.

There had been a humble willingness to have Him with me—and He came.

I ruthlessly faced my sins and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch.

I expressed my entire willingness to approach these individuals, admitting my wrong.

Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility

we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort.

without disaster, provided he remains willing to maintain a certain simple attitude.

If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try.

M ost of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics.

We found that as soon as we were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to fully define or comprehend that Power, which is God.

“Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself?’’ As soon as a man can say that he does believe, or is willing to believe, we emphatically assure him that he is on his way.

Why this ready acceptance?

Show any longshoreman a Sunday supplement describing a proposal to explore the moon by means of a rocket and he will say, “I bet they do it—maybe not so long either.’’ Is not our age characterized by the ease with which we discard old ideas for new, by the complete readiness with which we throw away the theory or gadget which does not work for something new which does?

We had to ask ourselves why we shouldn’t apply to our human problems this same readiness to change our point of view.

Circumstances made him willing to believe.

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it—then you are ready to take certain steps.

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7.

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9.

The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.

May I do Thy will always!’’ We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

We admitted our wrongs honestly and were willing to set these matters straight.

Whatever our ideal turns out to be, we must be willing to grow toward it.

We must be willing to make amends where we have done harm, provided that we do not bring about still more harm in so doing.

We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can.

Unwilling to be honest with these sympathetic men, we were honest with no one else.

If that is so, this step may be postponed, only, however, if we hold ourselves in complete readiness to go through with it at the first opportunity.

We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.

Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable?

If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.

When ready, we say something like this: “My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.

We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends.

When it will serve any good purpose, we are willing to announce our convictions with tact and common sense.

We may lose our position or reputation or face jail, but we are willing.

It would have been impressive heroics if he had walked up to the Judge and said, “Here I am.’’ We thought he ought to be willing to do that if necessary, but if he were in jail he could provide nothing for either family.

He said he was perfectly willing to go to jail if she insisted.

We are sorry for what we have done and, God willing, it shall not be repeated.

If his own doctor is willing to tell him that he is alcoholic, so much the better.

The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles.

For the type of alcoholic who is able and willing to

Your husband may be willing to talk to one of them.

If you both show a willingness to remedy your own defects, there will be little need to criticize each other.

That is true only if one is willing to turn the past to good account.

We grow by our willingness to face and rectify errors and convert them into assets.

We think each family which has been relieved owes something to those who have not, and when the occasion requires, each member of it should be only too willing to bring former mistakes, no matter how grievous, out of their hiding places.

He admitted he was overdoing these things, but frankly said that he was not ready to stop.

You are willing to overlook his past performances.

After your man has gone along without drinking for a few months, you may be able to make use of his services with other employees who are giving you the alcoholic run-around—provided, of course, they are willing to have a third party in the picture.

You say, “Yes, I’m willing.

Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come.

On the third day the lawyer gave his life to the care and direction of his Creator, and said he was perfectly willing to do anything necessary.

I’m ready to do business.

They were willing, by day or night, to place a new man in the hospital and visit him afterward.

Understanding our work, he can do this with an eye to selecting those who are willing and able to recover on a spiritual basis.

To duplicate, with such backing, what we have accomplished is only a matter of willingness, patience and labor.