Serenity

[Tiger]

I think it's time for a new thread on, perhaps , the most misunderstood concept in AA

Prior to AA and during my early years in AA I thought "serenty" meant the absence of problems, stress and all the other negative aspects of life which we face daily.........like living on a pink cloud

I have found that, for me, serenity means "acceptance" of things as they are now - today....this is where we find "peace of mind" I can strive to change things for the future but I must "accept" the now!

In the Serenity Prayer, it states "the wisdom to know the difference"........IMO that wisdom is that 99% of the things I can not change lie outside of myself - people, places and things and 99% of the things I *can* change lie in myself - my attidude to those people, places and things.

It looks like "Serenity" is an inside job!

Tiger

[SunnyGirl]

EXCELLENT

( ( ( ( Tiger ) ) ) )

A wonderful reminder for both sides of the hall.....

Your friend in recovery, SG

[lildee]

Hi Tiger,

Excellent thread. For me Serenity means peace. Being comfortable in my own skin and in the environment that I am in. It can involve many tools to achieve that peace. It can be accepting, it can be detaching, it can be letting it go. Whatever it takes to have that peace.

Thanks for the thread.

Love and God Bless
Arlene

[Caressa2]

You get my vote. Recovery is an inside job. For me it is at me being at peace with me, and as they say, acceptance is the key to all of my problems today.

I don't have to like other people's actions, words, etc. but I do have to accept the fact that they have a right to their opinion even if it isn't in agreement with me.

Things are as they are, and I can put my input into any given situation, but it is generally to decision of the whole, and my contribution can have no value or a great impact depending on the circumstances.

I can't keep people sober and I can't take the credit for people sobriety, but I can endorse myself for walking my own talk if they saw something from within me that helped them on their own journey.

I can't make people drink, I am not responsible and I don't have the power. They make the decision and it has nothing to do with my actions, words or by my ommision to do what they wanted me to do. I have heard people say, "You made me..." and that isn't true. They make the choice, a drink or a drug, a man or work, gambling or food, they are just inanimate object or things which have no power over me unless I give them that power. It is part of the first step, finding total acceptance for my disease was the first step toward finding some peace and serenity. Knowing I wasn't crazy just insance, that I wasn't alone - others thought like I did, that I wasn't bad because I didn't have any 'will' power, I found out what I had was a problem with 'won't power, I couldn't say no without the help of a Higher Power. When I surrendered to the fact and aligned my will for the power of good, then I was empowered to do what I need to do to maintain that serenity.

When I don't have serenity today it is because it is generally me against the world, everything and everyone owes me, and I am so hard done by don't you know, if they would only do what I wanted them to do; and it is about me finding peace and acceptance with myself, and minding my own business and align my will with God's which for me is to be the best me I can be today, nothing more, nothing less. If I haven't tried, then that is my shortcoming, if I have hurt someone else or myself during the course of the day because of my lack of trying, then that is my defect of character, I am acting out in my disease.

Don't know where all that came from, but I hope it makes sense.

[dg]

Thanks Tiger.. I really enjoyed reading this thread today.

[mistyeve2]

I used to have a bumper sticker that said happiness is an inside job. I think that after reading your post that serenity is an inside thing too but God has to grant it to me according to the prayer. thanks for giving me some food for thought. Love & Hugs----Mistyeve