A client referred to the Serenity Prayer during a session the other day. This lead to a powerful discussion about the wisdom within this beautiful prayer. I never saw it’s wisdom so clearly.
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.
Serenity is Peace. Peace is created by knowing that it is not the world that causes suffering but our belief systems about the world that cause our suffering.
Acceptance is the first step to peace. What can you NOT change? Other people. Outer circumstances as they are this minute. Suffering is caused by wanting things to be different than they are. Pushing against what is. When you accept all that is, just as it is, and letting go of needing to change anything outside of yourself to find peace… peace finds you.
What can you change? You… only you. You can change your beliefs. You can change your perceptions. You can change your responses. You can change your attitude. You can choose to see this world as hostile or see this world as loving. Courage is found in the realization that you always have choice.
This wisdom is always within you… guiding you to Truth. Your authentic self knows the difference. What I can’t change – them… out there. What I can change – me… in here. It’s that simple. Serenity is that close.
And the most amusing part of all…. when you find the peace you have been searching for within, which is where it always was anyway, then through the Law of Attraction, you will effortlessly attract in all the things you thought would bring you that peace in the first place.
