Millions of people use the serenity prayer. Part of the passage says, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” The depth of its meaning is profound, and when it's practiced, it can open up a pathway to peace. As the prayer states, serenity is experienced when you can accept the things you cannot change. Have you ever tried to change someone, expecting them to be different or wanting them to be someone you thought they should be? It can be exhausting and disappointing. Peace comes when you finally accept that person for who they are. If it works, great; if not, you find the courage to make your own choices or go your own way.

It's the same for situations in your life. You need to ask yourself, “Is this something I can change or is it out of my control and do I need to accept what is with peace?” For example, the price of gasoline, goes up and you decide that you can't control the price of gasoline but you can conserve on gas and plan your errands accordingly. You can find peace in accepting what is (the price of gasoline) and you can also feel empowered to make choices that will benefit you (conserving gasoline), and in the end you create more peace.

Serenity Prayer

It takes patience and determination to accept the things you cannot change. Call upon God and the angels and ask for the healing that you need in order to let go. If the words from the serenity prayer have meaning to you, print a copy of it and place it somewhere special. Use it and allow yourself to be blessed by its words of wisdom.