The Wisdom of AA Spirituality Universally Applied

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

&mdashReinhold Niebuhr

The “Serenity Prayer” has been used by people of all faiths to experience health and wholeness- physically, emotionally , mentally and spiritually.

Serenity is another word for “ peace of mind.” It comes from the acceptance of what cannot be changed- making peace with what is. It has been defined as a “benevolent letting be.”

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the willingness to act in spite of my fear, doubt and insecurity.

Wisdom can be acquired by the simple exercise of dividing a piece of paper into two columns. In the left column, list all the things you cannot change- the past, the weather, other people, etc. In the right column, list all the things you can change- myself, my choices, how I spend my time, etc.

Much anxiety and depression comes from living in opposition to the Serenity Prayer- trying to change what I can’t change and the unwillingness to change what I can.

Just for today I will live in harmony with the universe and accept life on life’s terms.