How I Find Peace
These days it almost seems irresponsible to not feel anxious or fearful. But we need to realize that it isn't good for our health - mental or physical, to live in a constant state of stress. I, for one, feel the need to help everyone and fix everyone's problems. That's a burden no one should have to bear. So I want to share some of the things I do and think about that make life more pleasant and peaceful.
1. The Serenity Prayer
I am not an alcoholic, but I have learned a lot from the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12-step program is now in use by many organizations, not just AA. And the Serenity Prayer has helped countless people all over the world. Here it is:
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.
So here's how I "use" this prayer, besides praying it, of course. When something happens that upsets me, I ask myself, "Is there anything I can change about this situation? Or is this something I can't change and need to work on accepting?" And I say accepting is WORK. We do need to work on acceptance of the things we can't change. Once we do that, it might be easier to see something that we would be able to change and improve.
2. Forgive Reality
What? How can you forgive reality? I imagine people who live in war zones or refugee camps have a better grasp of this than I ever will. They have to go on living, even though their world is turned upside down. This is their reality. If they didn't forgive it for being what it is, how could they function?
So in my small way, I choose to forgive my reality. Forgive the events that upset me, the people who upset me, and let go of worrying and fretting. I didn't say this was easy. I think this is the hardest thing for me to do.
3. The Prayer of St. Francis
This prayer is attributed to Frances of Assisi, but no one can be certain he actually wrote it. I like to think of him, though, when I read this prayer. It has helped me through the death of my mother, and the grieving process, where I had to seek first to console, rather than to be consoled. (Again, not so easy to do.) This has helped me through family conflicts, political disagreements, petty arguments, and more. I hope to continue to be "an instrument of peace."
Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life
Peace to You
I hope you will find more peace in your life today than you did yesterday. Keep seeking peace. You will find it.