Self-Acceptance and Self-Knowledge

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.

This well-known prayer expresses some key guidelines to our philosophy of living.
One group member explained it this way:
“For me, the things I cannot change are other people, places, and circumstances. The only things I can change are my attitudes, reactions and action toward the people, places and circumstances in my life.
“The wisdom to know the difference, well, that’s a hard one. I don’t always know what I can and cannot change until I try changing it. Wisdom comes by trial and error. The more experience I have, the more understanding, knowledge, and wisdom I have.”
Today I will accept that much of my wisdom can only come through my daily experiences.
I need to expect to make some mistakes in my attitudes, actions, and judgment of what I can and cannot change.
I will learn to be patient with myself and others as I gain more understanding from my mistakes.

The Reflecting Pond by Liane Cordes

Be Who You Are

See who you are.

Own who you are.

Be who you are.

Don't apologize.

-- Jerry K.

Once I own my shortcomings, once I tell them out loud to another person, I have taken full responsibility for myself - who I am, what I am- and how I have acted.
Now I am closer to my Higher Power, who has accepted me all along.
Now I can return to the spiritual support that is always available.
When I admitted who I am to myself and others, I am given the gift of self-acceptance and a sense of belonging to the human race.

Today help me tell myself, my Higher Power, and
at least one other person who I really am.