Serenity

Allow yourself to think of the word serenity and think for a moment what feeling that conjures up for you…

Is it peace, calm, is it a sense of ease? Just take a moment and allow the feeling of serenity wash over you.

Isn’t it amazing how just a word can have such a profound affect on our emotions, mind, and body?

The definition of serenity is a state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

Serenity is a sense of coming home to your true self and purpose. It’s a peaceful state that your body, mind, and soul need to experience. Experiencing a state of serenity can help you avoid chronic stress and tell you more about the activities that make you happy.

We all need help recognizing how to find serenity in our daily lives. Try using the following ideas to find a beautiful inner peace every day:

Give thanks: Start and end your day by giving thanks for all you have, whether it’s food, shelter, clothing, or something else.

Practice acceptance: Life will always throw you curveballs, so at some point we have to practice acceptance. The key word here is 'practice,' don't give yourself too high expectations, remember your humanness.

Be kind: Acting unkindly toward others does not benefit anyone. Instead, try to be kind, and most others will in turn be kind to you.

Get enough sleep: Getting the right amount of sleep each night will help you wake up with a clear and relaxed mind.

Keep your environment clean: It’s hard to relax in a messy space, so keep your space clean and fill it with things that bring you joy. Create your own sanctuary of serenity.

Calm your wandering mind: Our minds easily drift away to unsettling thoughts when we let them. Instead, bring them back to what you love. This can be achieved through being more mindful or in your meditation practice.

When I think of the word serenity it makes me think of the serenity prayer. It is a prayer written by the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

If you’re not familiar with it here is the original,

Father,

Give us courage to change what must be altered,

Serenity to accept what cannot be helped,

And the insight to now the one from the other.

It was then adopted and popularised by Alcoholics Anonymous for their prayer for the twelve steps programme. The version you may be more familiar with is,

God,

grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Firstly, if you struggle, feel uncomfortable, or do not wish to use the word Father/God, that is your choice, your right. Just simply replace the word with your own belief, be that your own inner wisdom, spiritual belief, nature, or just leave the word out. Father may become mother nature, the universe, guides, whatever sits right with you. For us to be able to adopt something to help support us it’s important for it to feel right and there are no rules to say we can’t change the wording of something for it to sit right.

Acceptance: The serenity prayer reminds us that acceptance is the key to feeling serenity. There are many things we have no power over. Trying to fight against or resist the way things are is a waste of energy and only ever leads to suffering. Serenity comes with acceptance.

Courage: Change requires courage because it is taking a step into the unknown. The reason why so many people settle for suffering is fear. Courage is required to keep on making the needed changes that will lead to a better life. Courage takes bravery, because with courage you also experience feelings of being vulnerable.

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen” Brene Brown.

Wisdom: The wisdom to know the difference in what is within our control may come from contemplation, meditation, or talking to others. It’s empowering to come to believe there are many things you can change.

Have a good think about what the word means to you, maybe you can meditate on the word, use it as a mantra and see what bubbles up to the surface? If you feel any resistance, see if this is because you are not in the right head space to experience serenity or that something needs to 'shift' in order for you to allow and invite more serenity into your life.

Explore and enjoy your journey,

With love, kindness and compassion,

Karen xx