The Serenity Prayer

[SunnyGirl]

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I love the Serenity prayer, it's such a simple prayer, but using
it as tool in my recovery has helped me more than I can say.

I have learned that serenity is place of calmness and tranquility,
it's being free of mental stress and anxiety. Then comes acceptance,
it's clearly seeing and being in the reality of any situation, not
just thinking about how you would like it to be or worrying about
what it might be. It also means dealing with the situation from
that place of acceptance. We can accept something and still
have unhappy emotions or thoughts about it. I've learned that I
can't have serenity without acceptance, acceptance brings serenity.

When I feel myself beginning to spiral out of control, I will
say this prayer over and over until I feel the chaos around
me begin to fade away. I pray daily for the courage to
face all that life hands me and for the strength to realize that
I have no power over people, places and things that upset me.
I can walk away from people that upset me, but sometimes
just talking calmly and defusing a situation works just as well.
I try not to put myself into situations that I know will cause me
anxiety and angst and this helps me greatly. I can't live my
life in a bubble, but I can pick and choose what brings me
hope and happiness. Every now and then life will give me
lemons, but I have a choice as to what I will do with them.
I am getting much better at not making mountains out of
mole hills....

Peace on the journey, SunnyGirl

How does the Serenity Prayer help you in your life?

Please share.....

Peace on the journey, SunnyGirl

[caressa]

For me, it was an all day, every day thing and I was glad I couldn't wear it out.

At first, all I can do was say the words. They didn't have much meaning and yet taking the time to say it, gave me that time out that I needed to make a healthy decision instead of reacting or opening my mouth when it was best left closed.

The major dilemma I had was figuring out "the wisdom to know the difference." That took a while and lots and lots of practice.

Often there were occasions that I thought what would have happened if I hadn't stopped to say it. I often shutter just to think about it! In today, I always try to follow it up with the Third and Seven Prayers too. If you look in the AA Big Book (Page 76), the Amen comes after the Seventh Step Prayer.

[majestyjo]

This reminds me of what a friend said to me, "If you don't know, the time isn't right. When the time is right, you will know." I got to say those words back to her when she called me a couple of nights ago. I did a meditation, which started with the Serenity Prayer and her name came to mind and an hour later she phoned me.

Let us say it again, once more with feeling.

[caressa222]

So glad you can't wear out the Serenity Prayer.