Quotations from the Big Book
"As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless, apart from divine help."
"We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men."
"We had to have God’s help."
"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."
"Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us."
"Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action ..."
"... we are engaged upon a life-and death errand"
"Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol."
"Simply we tell him that we will never get over drinking until we have done our utmost to straighten out the past."
"But we don’t delay if it can be avoided."
What does willingness look like in practice?
1. Organising one's life to prioritise daily step work (1 to 2 hours on a working day, 2 to 4 on a non-working day)
2. Actually doing that
3. Doing more if possible
Any less than that, and the basic premises and approach of the programme have not been accepted and adopted as a way of life.