What does serenity look like to you?
Upon entering Al‑Anon, we may have equated “serene” with “boring.” The disease of alcoholism may have distorted our sense of stability. June’s blog topic is, “What does serenity look like to you?”
As always, you can also write about Al‑Anon’s three Legacies. This month features Step Six, Tradition Six, and Concept Six.
Sharings on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
New topics are being added each month!
Serenity to me is an emotional feeling in my body, that is safe, protected, warm, kind, patient, and a great sense of gratitude and appreciation for where I am in my life. Being in the present and not concerned with yesterday or tomorrow. Always having my Higher Power with me and protecting me. Living with an attitude of gratitude.
I protect my peace at all costs. I refuse to allow the chaos around to change my inner peace.
Serenity: quieting my mind..by an outside walk, a cup of coffee with my CAL early each morning, minding my own business, staying PRESENT, practicing (over and over) my program in ALL my affairs; remembering to pause, pray, before I proceed. Remembering with gratitude how my HP has been and is always with me….
Serenity for me is feeling like I am okay and at peace no matter what is going on in my life.
Serenity is such a powerful word. I think it can take on many definitions for many circumstances. For me, serenity is hearing that still small voice through all of the noise and turmoil. The ability to focus because through all of the emotions, you can sense the hope.
Serenity for me includes staying calm even when with an adult family member who is very stressed and sometimes agitated. I only give advice when asked. Occasionally, I ask a question and then stop talking. No lectures. No follow-up questions at the time. I ask my Higher Power for guidance. I ask my Sponsor for guidance. I use a slogan like “Easy Does Tt” or “Think” to keep me grounded. I listen without interrupting, which is still hard for me. When I am alone, serenity is sitting on my deck, reading a magazine or book or Al-Anon literature. It can… Read more »
Serenity means acceptance. Accepting where I am and quieting that inner critical voice. But first, I accept that being human means accepting that the Inner Critic happens. Noticing this and asking for help paves the way to peace. My go-tos are The Serenity Prayer, literature on the Do’s and Don’ts, and my notes from my latest meeting. Finally, I learned that if I substitute the word “defects” for “defaults,” I was more open to surrendering my habits to my Higher Power. I am thankful every day for attending the meeting where I heard this idea.
At the end of most Al-Anon meetings, we say, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…” I used to repeat that prayer with everyone else, but I didn’t really pay attention to the words—not until I’d been in Al-Anon for about a year and a half. Living with an alcoholic is chaos. It’s constant agitation. It’s a daily fight just to keep your mind clear from their manipulations. About a year and a half into the program, the word serenity finally struck me—and I realized I didn’t have any. Every day felt like a battle. I was always on… Read more »
Serenity to me today is feeling safe, calm, and contented in my own skin. For so long I didn’t know what I wanted or where I was. Growing up in a chaotic environment left me lonely, lost, and unsure of myself. Always wanting to be loved and listened to. Today, I’m at peace with myself most of the time.
Serenity- The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. When we first walk through the doors of Al-Anon, we are the opposite of the dictionary definition of Serenity. Instead we are chaotic, frantic, and troubled. After years of working a program, serenity is no longer uncomfortable and has become my favorite place. I find it on walks in the park and on the beach. One morning, while walking on the beach, I saw this blue heron minding his/her own business. Later, while viewing the photo, I noticed the perfect shadow. What a gift! God always has a gift for me.… Read more »
For me, serenity is being focussed on one thing. It doesn’t matter so much what the one thing is, where I am, a peaceful or bustling location, it doesn’t need to be a beautiful nature scape or luxury hotel. For me, it’s only having one thing on my mind, moving at a gentle pace, not resisting, and going with the flow of my heart and thoughts.
I had no concept of serenity when I walked through the doors of Al-Anon. Every aspect of my life was chaotic. I thought I had no choices and that belief perpetuated my turmoil. Once Al-Anon, and my loving Sponsor, introduced me to the idea that I had control over my own life, I began to experience glimmers of peace and quiet. I learned where I could invite calm into my life with a change in my attitude and perspective. After working the program for a long time, I am still fine-tuning my definition of serenity. Today, I think serenity is… Read more »
Serenity looks like dew drops on a thousand blades of grass, sparkling in the early morning sun. When I am outside, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, I feel peace and gratitude. My mind is free from worries about the behavior of others, the choices they make that I don’t like. None of that is my business. Thanking God for the beauty of nature is my business. I am thankful to Al-Anon for helping me focus on the beauty around me. I am making real progress by working the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts with my Sponsor. My attitude is improving,… Read more »
Serenity… I love to say the word slowly. That quiets my soul. It calms my thoughts if the alcohol abuse is ramping up. I go to a quiet space and enjoy the peaceful surroundings…especially outdoors in Nature. I am so grateful for the many tools of the program!
My serenity comes when I spend time taking responsibility for myself, caring for my own needs well; and then as I meditate in the quietness of time with God, He reveals to me who to pray for so I can let go of the impulse to take responsibility for them that does not belong to me. And in the stillness of these serene moments with God, He often speaks to me about ways to care about others and I find strength to take action peacefully and in unassuming ways to love others out of the outflow of knowing I am… Read more »
Serenity means not being afraid, knowing that HP is guiding me through the crisis. Serenity is having courage and managing anxiety in tough times. For me, serenity comes with acceptance.
Serenity to me looks like quiet. No TV, no music, sometimes no talking, just me and my thoughts. It’s something that I’ve had to get used to because living with an alcoholic was totally different. The alcoholic environment used to be loud, fast paced, chaotic. I have had to learn that slowing down and being quiet is so much more peaceful. It has taken practice. At the beginning, I would just try to focus on five minutes of quiet time and since then, I have slowly increased this time. Serenity is something that I like to protect! Calm for me… Read more »
Thinking about God and gratitude helps me to be serene every day. That’s what my program has boiled down to. If I have God and gratitude in my thoughts, it’s a good day. If that’s not doing it for me, then I turn to my program and find some other tools to help, like going to a meeting or seeing my Sponsor. Al-Anon really is a simple program for complex people.
Serenity feels peaceful to me like a calm lake instead of a raging ocean of emotions. My serenity is comfortable and reassuring like a warm blanket wrapped around me. My serenity is a journey comprised of my life’s inevitable ups and downs that include help from my loving Higher Power. My serenity is not boring. I prefer that my life be free of drama, unless I’m reading a book or watching a film. My serenity is priceless. I can’t buy it at a store nor online. I must work for my serenity by applying the principles of the Al-Anon program… Read more »
Serenity for me looks like my head and my soul are in harmony and at peace. I can humbly say that to find and live serenity in my life is one of the greatest gifts that Al-Anon has given me. In the past and still today, if I am not vigilant with my thoughts and feelings I can easily lose my serenity. When my head starts to play exagerated scenarios that are not really in proportion with what is happening in my life and/or not really connected to my reality, then serenity goes out the window. Thanks to the program… Read more »