Step 6: Readiness for Change – Listening for Wisdom Within
In this episode, Randy Hyden and I explore Step 6, a step that focuses on willingness, humility, and the readiness to change long-standing patterns.
Under Earners Anonymous – Step 6
“We’re entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”
Easier Ways – Step 6
“We were entirely ready to listen to wise counsel and seek that still small voice within to guide us in changing our harmful behaviors.”
The Power of Willingness
Step 6 is less about immediate transformation and more about readiness.
After identifying patterns and sharing them honestly in Steps 4 and 5, this step invites us to become willing to change them. That willingness can be subtle. It may begin simply with the openness to listen—to others, to wisdom traditions, or to the quiet inner guidance often described as the “still small voice.”
In Randy’s Easier Ways framework, the emphasis is not on removing “defects,” but on recognizing that harmful behaviors often come from fear, misunderstanding, or outdated beliefs. When we become willing to release those patterns, change begins to unfold naturally.
Unlearning What No Longer Serves
One of the insights Randy shares is that recovery often involves unlearning as much as learning.
Many behaviors that once helped us cope—perfectionism, control, avoidance, or aggression—may have developed as survival strategies. Over time, however, those same behaviors can become barriers to growth.
Step 6 asks us to recognize these patterns and become willing to replace them with healthier ways of relating to ourselves and others.
Seeking Wise Counsel
Another key aspect of this step is learning to listen.
That listening can take many forms:
- Guidance from trusted peers or mentors
- Wisdom from recovery communities
- Reflection through spiritual or contemplative practices
- The quiet voice of intuition that emerges when we slow down
By opening ourselves to counsel and reflection, we create the conditions for meaningful change.
Compassion Over Judgment
During our conversation, Randy emphasizes the importance of self-compassion throughout this process.
Many traditional interpretations of Step 6 speak of removing “defects of character.” While that language can be helpful for some, Randy reminds us that people are not inherently defective. Instead, recovery invites us to recognize our humanity, acknowledge our patterns, and choose a different path forward.
This shift from judgment to compassion allows real transformation to take root.
A Step Toward Transformation
Step 6 is ultimately about becoming willing to grow.
It is the moment when we acknowledge that we cannot simply think our way out of our patterns—we must also be open to guidance, support, and inner wisdom.
Change begins not with perfection, but with readiness.
Reflection Question
What pattern or behavior in your life might be ready for change—and what would it mean to become truly willing to let it go?
All time spent watching this series and reading Randy Hyden’s Easier Ways book is creditable in the Living Library Time Bank.
Transformation rarely happens all at once. But willingness is where the process begins.
Rogue Counselor 