My favorite saying of all time is “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.” I have worked to govern myself and my actions with this guideline for most of my adult life and encouraged others to use it as well. Sometimes I confused the things I felt I could change, realizing after much futile effort, that I had a great deal more work to do to gain the wisdom necessary to know the difference. When I eventually faced those things I could not change, grieved my impotence, flailed around in frustration, butted my head up against the proverbial wall a few more painful times in obstinate denial, I learned to come full circle to face serenity, disgruntled and frustrated. Changing things has always come easy for me. Gaining serenity has been my challenge. Wisdom is only gained via the path between changing things and accepting those things that cannot be changed and running that gamut limitless times. Like a cat chasing its tail that eventually learns that it’s an elusive effort, the lesson we learn through the futile part of this circular process is what we carry forward. In time we learn to shorten the head butting stage of things and redirect our energy and effort into gaining more serenity, more wisdom and to make a wiser use of our courage. It is not just about meekly accepting our lot in life. The life lesson is really more about courage and wisdom than serenity. When all possible efforts fail, knowing you did your part and that you gave it your all, then and only then can you gain life’s serenity and the rewards that come therewith. Otherwise it eventually falls into the category called “regret”.
To Your Success!
Tracy
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