I've found for me just thinking or saying I am willing is rarely enough. I must take some actions to "prove" my willingness to the universe. Fortunately I don't have to invent actions to take. The 12 steps outlines a set of divinely-inspired, time-tested actions that over time bring about what Dr. Silkworth calls "an entire psychic change" necessary to recover from alcoholism. 

Had you asked if I were willing to change before AA while I was sitting alone in my darkened apartment with my bottle of wine, bag of dope and overflowing ash tray, I would have said "why should I want to change?" 

Even though I was unemployed and running out of borrowed money, even though I had no friends, no enthusiasm, no interests (other than drinking and getting high), even though I lived with gnawing fear everyday, I really didn't think there was too much about me that needed changing. After all I was a pretty nice guy. I had been winning at the game of life before and would again as soon as I got a new high paying job and a new gorgeous girlfriend. Sure I wanted changes, but I wanted my outside circumstances to change. 

Today I know I had it exactly backwards. I learned in Alcoholics Anonymous that if my insides are in good order my outside circumstances will take care of themselves. But my insides don't remain in good order unless I am changing and growing. Just having the willingness to change is not enough. I have to take the actions.