Step 6 of NA: Becoming Entirely Ready for Change
What Step 6 of Narcotics Anonymous means, how becoming entirely ready to have a higher power remove our defects of character works, why willingness is the heart of this step, and where it fits in recovery alongside treatment.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician and Addiction Medicine Specialist, Phuket Island Rehab.
Step 6 of Narcotics Anonymous reads: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Coming after the searching self-examination of Steps 4 and 5, Step 6 is about willingness, becoming entirely ready to let go of the harmful character defects, the patterns of thinking and behaving, identified earlier, and to allow a higher power, as each person understands it, to help change them. It does not ask the person to remove the defects by willpower, nor does it promise instant change; it asks for genuine readiness and willingness to let them go, which can be difficult because people often cling to familiar patterns even when they cause harm. Step 6 is a preparation step, an inner shift of willingness that sets up Step 7, in which the person humbly asks for those shortcomings to be removed. In NA, the higher power is understood broadly, so the step is open to people of any or no religious belief, and it works best alongside, not instead of, professional treatment for addiction.
What Step 6 says
Step 6 of the twelve steps of Narcotics Anonymous reads: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Like the other steps, it is shared with Alcoholics Anonymous and the wider twelve-step tradition, and it follows naturally from the steps that come before it. By the time a person reaches Step 6, they have admitted their powerlessness over addiction, come to believe a higher power could help, made a decision to turn their will and life over to that power, made a searching moral inventory of themselves in Step 4, and admitted their wrongs in Step 5. Step 6 builds directly on that honest self-examination, taking the next inner step toward change.
Step 6 is sometimes overlooked or rushed because it can seem less dramatic than the inventory of Step 4 or the amends of later steps, but it is a crucial turning point. It is the step where a person becomes willing to let go of the harmful patterns they have identified in themselves. The phrase entirely ready is the heart of it: this is a step about readiness and willingness rather than action, an inner preparation that makes the change of the following step possible. Understanding what Step 6 means, what it asks, and what it does not ask helps people work it honestly rather than skimming past it, and reveals why this quiet step matters so much in recovery.
Defects of character
Step 6 refers to defects of character, which are the harmful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that a person identified in their Step 4 inventory and admitted in Step 5. These are not meant as a harsh judgement of the person as bad, but as a recognition of the traits and habits that have caused harm and fuelled the addiction, such as dishonesty, resentment, fear, selfishness, pride, self-pity, the need to control, or other patterns that have damaged the person’s life and relationships. In recovery, these are understood as things to be released so the person can live more freely, not as a basis for shame.
The defects of character matter because, in the twelve-step understanding, they are part of what drives the addiction and the suffering around it, and continuing to act on them undermines recovery. Having brought them into the light through the inventory and the admission of Steps 4 and 5, the person now faces what to do with them, and Step 6 is the answer: becoming ready to let them go. It is worth noting that the language of defects and the spiritual framing are particular to the twelve-step approach, and that recovery can be understood in other terms too, but within NA this is the framework, and Step 6 is about the readiness to be free of these harmful patterns.
The heart of Step 6: willingness
The essence of Step 6 is willingness, captured in the words entirely ready. The step asks the person to become genuinely, wholly willing to have their defects of character removed, to reach an inner readiness to let go of these patterns. Importantly, it does not ask the person to remove the defects themselves by sheer willpower, which the twelve-step approach holds is beyond a person’s power alone, just as the addiction was; that is why the next step involves humbly asking a higher power for help. Step 6 is the preparation, the cultivation of willingness, that makes that asking sincere. Without genuine readiness, asking for change in Step 7 would be hollow.
This focus on willingness reveals why Step 6 can be surprisingly difficult. People often cling to familiar patterns even when they cause harm, because those patterns are comfortable, serve some function, or feel like part of who they are. A person may find that they are not, in fact, entirely ready to let go of a particular resentment, a way of controlling others, or a self-protective habit, even though they can see it is harmful. Step 6 invites honesty about this, recognising where one is not yet willing and working toward genuine readiness. The word entirely sets a high bar, and the step is often a matter of becoming willing to be willing, a gradual softening rather than a single instant decision.
| Step 6 is | Step 6 is not |
|---|---|
| About willingness and readiness | About removing defects by willpower |
| An inner preparation for change | A promise of instant transformation |
| Letting go of harmful patterns | Harshly condemning oneself as bad |
| Openness to a higher power’s help | Tied to one specific religion |
| A setup for Step 7’s asking | The final step of change itself |
The higher power and how it is understood
Step 6 speaks of having God remove the defects of character, and the role of a higher power is central to it, but in NA this is understood broadly and inclusively. The twelve-step tradition emphasises a higher power as each person understands it, often expressed as a God of your own understanding, and this can be a religious God, the group or fellowship itself, the principles of the program, or simply a power greater than oneself, however a person conceives it. This deliberate openness means the steps, including Step 6, are intended to be accessible to people of any faith or none, and many people who do not consider themselves religious work the steps meaningfully by interpreting the higher power in their own way.
The point of involving a higher power in Step 6 is humility and the recognition, central to the twelve-step approach, that a person cannot simply will away their deep-seated patterns alone, any more than they could will away their addiction. Becoming entirely ready to have these defects removed by a power greater than oneself is an act of surrender and trust, a letting go of the illusion of total self-control. For those who find the religious language difficult, it can help to focus on the underlying spirit of the step: a genuine willingness to change, openness to help beyond one’s own willpower, and humility about one’s limits. Understood this way, Step 6 is accessible regardless of belief.
Working Step 6 and where it leads
Working Step 6 is largely inner work, often done with the help of a sponsor and through honest reflection. It involves looking at the defects identified earlier and genuinely examining one’s willingness to let each go, noticing where one is ready and where one still clings, and praying or reflecting toward becoming more willing, however one understands that. It is not about achieving perfection or instant readiness; many people find they are ready to release some patterns but not yet others, and the step honours that honesty, encouraging continued willingness rather than pretending. The phrase entirely ready is an ideal to move toward, and partial readiness honestly acknowledged is itself progress.
Step 6 leads directly into Step 7, in which the person humbly asks their higher power to remove their shortcomings. The two steps work together: Step 6 cultivates the willingness, and Step 7 makes the request that flows from it. This is why Step 6 matters so much despite its quiet nature; it is the inner shift that makes the change of Step 7 possible and sincere. In the broader arc of recovery, Step 6 represents the moment of becoming truly ready to change, to let go of the old patterns and live differently, which is at the very heart of what recovery asks. It is a step of preparation and willingness on the path to lasting transformation.
Where the steps fit with treatment
The twelve steps, including Step 6, are a powerful framework for recovery for many people, but it is important to understand that they are a path of personal and spiritual growth and mutual support, not a medical treatment for addiction in themselves. They complement professional treatment rather than replacing it. Addiction is a serious medical condition, and especially where there is physical dependence, overcoming it requires real treatment, whether a medically supervised detox, evidence-based therapy, medication where appropriate, and ongoing support, alongside whatever role the fellowship and the steps play.
This matters particularly at the start of recovery. Someone who is physically dependent on alcohol or benzodiazepines should not stop suddenly, because withdrawal can cause seizures and be life-threatening, and stopping safely requires a medically supervised detox, not willingness alone. The steps, including the inner work of Step 6, support the longer journey of change and living well in recovery, while professional treatment provides the medical and psychological care that recovery from addiction requires. Seen rightly, the steps and treatment are partners. For someone working Step 6, that inner readiness to change is valuable, and it is strongest when built on the foundation of proper treatment.
Summary
Step 6 of Narcotics Anonymous reads: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Coming after the self-examination of Steps 4 and 5, Step 6 is about willingness, becoming entirely ready to let go of the harmful character defects identified earlier and to allow a higher power, as each person understands it, to help change them. It does not ask the person to remove the defects by willpower, nor does it promise instant change; it asks for genuine readiness and willingness to let them go, which can be difficult because people often cling to familiar patterns even when they cause harm. Step 6 is a preparation step, an inner shift of willingness that sets up Step 7, in which the person humbly asks for those shortcomings to be removed. In NA, the higher power is understood broadly, so the step is open to people of any or no religious belief, and it works best alongside, not instead of, professional treatment for addiction.
As Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, addiction medicine specialist at Phuket Island Rehab, puts it, “Step 6 looks simple on the page, just being ready, but it is one of the most honest moments in the steps, because people discover they are not always as ready to let go of their old patterns as they thought. I have seen real change begin right there, in someone admitting they were still clinging to a resentment or a way of controlling things. Becoming willing to let go is the heart of recovery, and it works best when it sits on top of solid treatment.”
Frequently asked questions
What is Step 6 of NA?
Step 6 of Narcotics Anonymous reads: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. It comes after the moral inventory of Step 4 and the admission of wrongs in Step 5, and it asks the person to become genuinely willing to let go of the harmful patterns they identified, allowing a higher power, as they understand it, to help change them. It is a step about willingness and readiness rather than action, preparing the way for Step 7.
What are defects of character in Step 6?
They are the harmful patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving identified in the Step 4 inventory and admitted in Step 5, such as dishonesty, resentment, fear, selfishness, pride, self-pity, or the need to control. They are understood not as a harsh judgement of the person as bad, but as traits and habits that have caused harm and fuelled the addiction, which the person now becomes ready to release in order to live more freely in recovery.
Why is Step 6 about willingness?
Because the twelve-step approach holds that a person cannot remove their deep-seated patterns by willpower alone, any more than they could will away their addiction. So Step 6 does not ask the person to fix the defects themselves; it asks them to become entirely ready and willing to have a higher power help remove them, which sets up the humble request of Step 7. Cultivating genuine willingness is the inner preparation that makes the change of the next step sincere and possible.
Why is Step 6 difficult?
Because people often cling to familiar patterns even when they cause harm, since those patterns are comfortable, serve some function, or feel like part of who they are. A person may find they are not entirely ready to let go of a particular resentment or self-protective habit, even seeing it is harmful. The word entirely sets a high bar, so Step 6 is often a matter of becoming willing to be willing, a gradual softening and honest acknowledgement of where one is not yet ready, rather than a single instant decision.
Do you have to be religious to work Step 6?
No. Although Step 6 mentions God, the twelve-step tradition understands the higher power broadly, as each person understands it, which can be a religious God, the fellowship, the principles of the program, or simply a power greater than oneself. The steps are intended to be accessible to people of any faith or none, and many non-religious people work them by interpreting the higher power in their own way, focusing on the underlying spirit of willingness, openness to help, and humility about one’s limits.
What comes after Step 6?
Step 7, in which the person humbly asks their higher power to remove their shortcomings. Step 6 and Step 7 work together: Step 6 cultivates the willingness and readiness, and Step 7 makes the humble request that flows from it. This is why Step 6, though quiet, matters so much, as it is the inner shift that makes the change of Step 7 possible and sincere. In the broader arc of recovery, Step 6 is the moment of becoming truly ready to change and live differently.
Sources
Narcotics Anonymous World Services. The Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous. https://www.na.org/
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. https://www.aa.org/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Recovery and Mutual Support. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/recovery
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Treatment and Recovery. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Twelve-Step Facilitation and Mutual-Help Groups. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Health Service (NHS). Drug Addiction: Getting Help. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/
Step 6 of NA — key entities and related terms
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