The Big Book suggests the necessity of willingness 39 times in the basic text.
Here they are:
It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me to make my beginning. I saw that growth could start from that point. Upon a foundation of complete willingness I might build what I saw in my friend.
I ruthlessly faced my sins and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch. I have not had a drink since.
I expressed my entire willingness to approach these individuals, admitting my wrong.
Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements.
One was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help. This we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort.
He does not need a bodyguard nor is he confined. He can go anywhere on this earth where other free men may go 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.
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. It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.
Circumstances made him willing to believe. He humbly offered himself to his Maker— then he knew.
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.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.
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.
We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable.
If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing.
My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.
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.
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.
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 get well, little charity, in the ordinary sense of the word, is needed or wanted.
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.
Yes, I’m willing.
It may seem incredible that these men are to become happy, respected, and useful once more. How can they rise out of such misery, bad repute and hopelessness? The practical answer is that since these things have happened among us, they can happen with you. 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.
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.