On the walls of thousands of AA meeting rooms, in any of a variety of languages, this invocation can be seen: God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, The courage to change the things we can, And the wisdom to know the difference.
These few sentences are often a source of contention for those seeking help who are not religious and/or do not subscribe to God. Although this mantra can be very powerful to others, there are some individuals who just can’t buy into the message because of the religious content.
Increasingly there are other acceptable philosophies of treatment beyond traditional 12-Step programs. In fact a quick search online shows that many more secular organizations and even private individuals have re-written this “prayer” to meet their own needs. Many delete the word God and fill in whatever suits them. Others focus on their perception of how to attain serenity.
Google defines serenity as “the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.” Virtually anyone can get on board with striving for serenity, we all just may have different opinions on how to achieve that goal. Whether you believe that serenity is achievable through God or your own personal life experience or hard work, the important message is that it is achievable.
And AToN Center can help you get there! 888-535-1516
