Dear Reader,
One year ago today, I shared a group of quotations on serenity. This year, I’d like to revisit them in a more personal way — weaving them into my journey of recovery, loss, and faith.
Serenity is one of those words that carries both gentleness and strength. It is more than a quiet moment by a lake or a pause at sunset. Serenity is a way of living — a grounding presence that steadies us when the storms of life rise. This is why the AA Promises assure us that we “are going to know a new happiness and we will know peace.” The 12 Steps of recovery help turn chaos into calm. As one unknown writer put it:
“Serenity is not found in the absence of chaos, but in the ability to remain calm amidst it.”
Peace is not about creating a perfect environment where nothing goes wrong. It is about learning how to stay centered when the world around us feels unsettled.
I remember when my late husband died and my household income was cut in half overnight. It would have been easy to panic, to drown in fear. Instead, I listened to the wisdom of others and found a plan to remain in my home while also helping those who needed shelter. What could have been chaos became a blessing — both for me and for others.
The Buddha once taught:
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
Serenity is not given by circumstances; it is cultivated in the soul. As another reflection says simply:
“Serenity is the soul’s true home.”
Through the steps of recovery and the words of scripture, I’ve found truth in William James’s practical reminder:
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
Our thoughts shape our reality. Choosing calm over chaos, gratitude over worry, and faith over fear is not denial of hardship — it is the discipline of serenity. Calmness is not weakness but strength born of restraint.
This discipline shows up in daily life. It helps me maintain a budget while still enjoying simple pleasures: a movie, or a dinner with friends. Josiah Gilbert Holland expressed it well:
“Calmness is the cradle of power.”
And Sun Tzu, master of strategy, adds a further truth:
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”
I see that opportunity today in service — in feeding the homeless, volunteering at an AA service center, and serving as a ward missionary in my church.
Calmness allows us to notice what panic would otherwise hide. As another writer puts it:
“When you are calm, you are the master of your own mind.”
We do not control the world, but we can choose how we respond.
One final reminder captures this wisdom:
“Let go of the things that are not in your control, and find peace in the present moment.”
True serenity is not about fixing everything. It is about acceptance.
“Serenity is the calm acceptance of the way things are.”
“True serenity is when you are at peace with yourself and the world around you.”
Dear Reader, serenity is not something to chase “out there.” It is something to grow “in here.” It is found in stillness, in acceptance, and in the gentle but firm choice to meet life with peace. May these words invite you home — to the calm within your own soul.
No comments:
Post a Comment