Serenity is the simple state of being at calm, peaceful, and untroubled. To take the definition one step further, serenity is the state of being at peace no matter what the outside circumstances may look like. When we let other people or things affect our peace and happiness, that is not a problem regarding other people or things, that is a problem regarding ourselves.
When we give other people the power to dictate our emotional and spiritual well-being, we are not allowing ourselves to maintain a spiritual connection to a power greater than ourselves. The purpose of spiritual connection is to feel empowered and hopeful, and to feel a sense of ease and a knowing that things will be okay as long as we trust the process. When other people or circumstances override that innate sense of calm, we place more weight and meaning onto people and things than we know they have over us.
Saying the serenity prayer, asking for peace of mind no matter what comes our way, helps keep us grounded and puts forth the idea that we will be okay, even if things do not go our way.
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.
When we fixate on things, try to change outside circumstances or the way people behave, we fall back into an old pattern of behavior, centered around selfishness and control. When we try to take the power back, we no longer are practicing the principle of faith, nor are we trusting that other people are capable of making decisions for themselves. Putting ourselves. When we let other people’s words and actions control our emotional states and dictate our own reactions, we give them the power we should be giving to our higher power. Daily prayer and meditation promote peace of mind and overall serenity, and a sense of ease and comfort underneath our initial fears and frustrations make it easier to live life happily and usefully.
