A common prayer/mantra that I’ve heard many times over.
It’s used in the Alcoholics Anonymous program to help members with their drinking problem. It’s used by atheists where they exclude God but keep the rest.
It’s a prayer that calms the mind and soothes the soul.
It reminds me of Stoicism, to accept things, people, situations, to accept Nature as it is.
Whenever I happen to cross path with it, be it through an article, book, or video it helps me put things in perspective.
But it wasn’t until today that I learned of the longer version.
Here it is in its entirety:
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.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
– Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)