
To accept the things I cannot changeĪlthough accepting the things you cannot change is makes utter logical sense, each one of us is guilty of chastising ourselves or obsessing over matters that we are not in any way capable or likely to influence. This backdrop means the Serenity Prayer could never be more relevant to the lives of those experiencing addiction. Stress is very much a modern disease that’s linked to a whole range of ailments such as cancer, heart disease, obesity and premature death. Asking for serenity is a wise decision, particularly when you are about to act in a way that could result in long-term emotional or physical harm. When we are stressed, we are likely to act impulsively and on our emotions.ĭoing so can have far-reaching negative consequences. It’s difficult to make sensible decisions when in this negative state of mind. When we lack serenity, we tend to feel stressful and agitated. God, grant me the serenity…Īs discussed above, serenity is akin to calmness. We shall now examine each part of the prayer below: 1.

The antonym (opposite) of serenity is defined as ‘agitation, alarm, anguish, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, uneasiness, vexation and worry.’ Thus, we feel it is fair to say that serenity is a calm state-of-mind.

The online dictionary, ‘Merriam Webster’, defines the serenity as ‘calm, calmness, peace, peacefulness, placidity and tranquillity’. The very word ‘serenity’ is unarguably archaic, so let’s begin by defining this term. We shall examine each part of this short prayer below. The popularity of this simple prayer is owed to the deep spiritual meaning contained in its words. Today, the Prayer has been adopted by many other 12-step organisations such as Gamblers Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. The Prayer was later adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in 1941. The Serenity Prayer was written back in 1932 by an American Theologian called Reinhold Niebuhr. If you are not recovering from an addiction yourself, you may wonder what the fuss is all about.
SERENITY PRAYER WORDS TV
However, awareness of the Serenity Prayer is undoubtedly growing because it has been mentioned in many TV programmes, documentaries and films. These treatments are available at residential or outpatient rehab clinics across the UK and abroad.Īlthough the Serenity Prayer is well known in recovery circles across the globe, it is still somewhat unknown to most. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.In this section, we outline a range of evidence-based addiction treatments.

The Serenity Prayer is not mentioned in the Bible, however, several underlying principles are found in Philippians 4:6-7. So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,Īnd supremely happy with You forever in the next. Trusting that You will make all things right, God, give me grace to accept with serenityĪccepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Niebuhr's prayer was published in 1951 and gained popularity when it was adopted by twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Differing sources claim that the Serenity Prayer was written in 1933, 1934 or 1937. Reinhold Niebuhr, who lived from 1892–1971, first wrote the Serenity Prayer in the 1930’s. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
