Gift Of
Serenity
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Acceptance
For me, serenity began when I learned to distinguish between those things that I could change and those I could not. When I admitted that there were people, places, things, and situations over which I was totally powerless, those things began to lose their power over me. I learned that everyone has the right to make their own mistakes, and learn from them, without my interference or assistance!
The key to serenity is acceptance. But "acceptance" does not mean that I have to like it, or condone it or even ignore it. What it does mean is I am powerless to do anything about it... and I have to accept that fact.
I spent years trying to change the alcoholics in my life. I threatened, scolded, manipulated, coerced, pleaded, begged, bribed and generally tried all I could to make the situation better -- only watch as the situation grew progressively worse. For me, acceptance came when I finally realized that I was dealing with a disease. Somebody told me, "You can't argue with a disease." That helped me change my attitude about the problem.
Key to Serenity:
It seems almost too simple to be true, but acceptance -- accepting things exactly as they are -- can be the key that unlocks the door to happiness.
But it doesn't act like a disease!:
The difficulty in recognizing alcoholism as a disease is it sure doesn't seem like one.
Denial: A Symptom of Alcoholism
One of the most frustrating factors in dealing with alcoholism, as a relative, friend or professional, is it is almost always accompanied by a phenomenon known as "denial."
Adult Children:
Most of us who grew up in families affected by the disease of alcoholism never did really grow up in many ways.
Growing Up in a Alcoholic Home:
Growing up in home with an active alcoholic can effect how a child looks at life and almost everything in it.
The Story Continues...
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