The serenity prayer is an inspiring piece for people struggling with life challenges. It helps us become grounded and find our Middle Ground: that place to find serenity, courage and wisdom in the waves  of life.

What most of understand as the serenity prayer is actually the first stanza of an entire prayer written in 1943, most probably by Reinhold Niebuhr.

prayerI have written before about how we can bring the Serenity Prayer to life by asking ourselves certain questions. See my earlier post Are there Missing Words from the Serenity Prayer?

Now I want to bring more meaningful perspectives here by sharing the entire prayer.

The Complete Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

What resonates with me, is how I can bring this into my daily life. So I’ve let go of the the language of Christianity and penned my thoughts here.

Let go of trying to control things that are out of my hands.

Find the courage to take control in areas that I can AND should.

Take one day at a time. Enjoy each moment at a time. 

Accept life as it unfolds… both the highs and the lows.

Trust in a higher power that makes life okay.

What resonates with you my friends?

Namaste

 

 

 

18 responses to “The Complete Serenity Prayer”

  1. Thanks Val, I needed this one today 🙂

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    1. Irene, so glad it helped today. I hope you are finding your middle ground after the fire. hugs, Val x

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      1. You certainly did Val 🙂
        I try my best, but it is not so easy when I just look up and see flights with water cross our area caused new other fires, now behind our area. I really appreciate your mentally support 🙂

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  2. Today is a new day and one that is full of promise. 🙂

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    1. Thank Sue. I like to believe that every moment can be filled with promise…. its a work in progress 🙂

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  3. This is a wonderful interpretation. I think there is one thing missing.
    Living each day is a way to cope with trauma, getting through grief, and even living a life of peace and calmness.
    However, I believe to truly live life to the full, to create and achieve, we need to plan ahead.

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    1. I agree Elizabeth. Living in the moment and paying attention to the future is needed to live fully. Val x

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  4. Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace – resonates with me. I never knew there was more to this prayer. Thank you for sharing it Val. 🙂
    Diana xo

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    1. Thank you for taking this moment to share and connect Diana! 🙂

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  5. Better as tailored, Val.
    We can only live happily-ever-after on a moment by moment basis.

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    1. Thank you Nancy. Great point!
      Val

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  6. Well done! Acceptance and discernment work for nearly all paths.

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    1. Thank you Vincent. We are all on a path up the same mountain.
      Val x

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  7. […] have taken inspiration from the Serenity Prayer  all the way to Stephen Covey’s first habit in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective […]

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  8. Keep coming back! It works if you work it.

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    1. It does ❣️ Thank you Sunny 🙏

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  9. […] time and what is within our control. I get to slow down, read and accept, and remind myself of the Serenity Prayer. Don gets to embrace his pioneer spirit, taking charge of the homestead, wife and […]

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