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

The Best Way to Self-Knowledge

Solitude, silence, and prayer are often the best ways to self-knowledge.
Not because they offer solutions for the complexity of our lives but because they bring us in touch with our sacred center, where God dwells.
That sacred center may not be analysed.
It is the place of adoration, thanksgiving, and praise.

Henri Nouwen

Recovery Russian Roulette

Some people in recovery cling to rebellion.
While they don't want to return to the horrors of active addiction, they aren't willing to surrender what they think of as individualism.
They "get away with" skipping Steps and ignoring suggestions.
One helps out at meetings, but keeps booze in the house.
One gives advice to newcomers, but goes un-sponsored.
The program doesn't ask that we give up what truly makes each of us an individual.
It offers us clear guidelines, and promises that if we follow them, we won't have to risk a relapse.
The program works for us, if we work it.
Testing our recovery by trying to see what we can "get away with" is like playing a game of Russian roulette.

Today, I feel safety and strength as
I follow the principles of this program.
I know that true individuality comes from
the self-knowledge that recovery affords me.