All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.
~Havelock Ellis
The wisdom that we attempt to develop in recovery is how to balance the letting go and the holding on in our lives. Many of us have sunk into deep holes of crisis and despair by holding on too tightly when we needed to let go. In other ways, perhaps, we have given up too easily when, with faith and trust, we could have held on to opportunities and values that seemed out of reach.
The Serenity Prayer speaks of the “wisdom to know the difference.” This power to discern between what we must accept and what we can change creates a deep sense of peace. It brings calm to our intimate partnership, success to our recovery from addiction and codependency, and greater effectiveness in our work life.
Today, I pray for the wisdom to know the difference between what I must accept and what I can change.