The Serenity Prayer for Difficult Times
During difficult times, staying mentally and physically well can be difficult when you're trying to manage a "new normal" that alters your routines and everyday life. When things feel overwhelming, I encourage you to turn to the Serenity Prayer, a simple prayer that can help us cope with stressful times.
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.
Let's break it down.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The first part of this prayer reminds us to ask ourselves: Are we fighting against factors that we have no control over, like other people's choices, a layoff, or a change in our work environment? Why are we putting up resistance to these things, and how can we refocus our thoughts to live in the moment?
There are many things around us right now—and always—that we cannot change. It can be easy to fall into a pattern of fixating on how we wish things were or how they 'should be. Consider how much suffering we cause ourselves by focusing on what should be rather than what is. I was spending a lot of time worrying about the impact of the coronavirus on so many lives. I was also making judgments on other's decisions on social distancing. Then I recognized that these thoughts were stressing me out and were not helping me or anyone else. I can list everything and everybody that I can't control and lift them all in prayer. It brings my stress level way down. Letting go is a practice that takes time. So be patient with yourself.
The courage to change the things I can
Ask yourself: What will help me stay grounded and positive during this difficult time? How can I connect to the people, places, and things that are important to me?
This part of the Serenity Prayer encourages us to look at what we can change. The easy answer to this question is "ME!" Despite a change in environment, you can still control your actions and reactions. These can be simple; for example, doing one thing out of your comfort zone, writing a letter, or calling someone living alone. We can't change the world's suffering, but we can brighten at least one person's day.
Ask yourself: What will help me stay grounded and positive during this difficult time? How can I connect to the people, places, and things that are important to me? This may mean joining a connect group, therapy, setting aside time each day for prayer and reflection, or walking outside. You can also use this passage to reflect on whether or not you are focusing on the right things. Are you willing to look around you to find the positive and let negative thoughts slip away? Are you ready to acknowledge that some of your thoughts and perceptions may be inaccurate and based on fear?
These questions are challenging, but they help us continually look inside for our truth, and they give us the information and insight we need to change what we can.
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Being honest with ourselves and repeating the Serenity Prayer reminds us to have faith that we are not alone in our journey and that we have a responsibility to control what we can and let go of what we can't.
In repeating the Serenity Prayer, we ask for awareness of our experience and the ability to understand all the pieces of the puzzle, the factors affecting our situation, and what we have control over and what we do not. Being honest with ourselves and repeating the Serenity Prayer reminds us to have faith that we are not alone in our journey and that we have a responsibility to control what we can and let go of what we can't.
During times of uncertainty, we can remind ourselves often of this calming prayer:
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.