Promise #4: We comprehend the word serenity and we know peace of mind.
Agitation, anxiety and jitteriness were all part of my life as I muddled through day after day, one foot in front of the other. Serenity was definitely not a part of my life.
As with any attachment to a negative behavior, serenity and peace was the farthest thing from my life. The new beliefs and thoughts which I heard expressed at Depressed Anonymous meetings started to help me change the way I thought about myself, my world and my future.
I believe that it takes work, time and prayer and quiet periods of meditation to achieve the peace and serenity that we are talking about here.
PEACE OF MIND IS THE RESULT OF:
- A clear conscience
- Living in the present
- Gratitude everyday
- Belief that the God of my understanding will get me through the problems of my life
- Forgiveness of myself and amends to all person I have harmed
- Doing God’s will means letting go
I am firmly convinced that in order to continue any semblance of peace and serenity I will have to structure a daily quiet period into my life. This is an essential part of the prescription for getting well and staying well. Also, I believe that when I am quiet, God can give to me all that is mine to have. My will and my life have to be attuned to God’s presence and love. We will know that in order for God to make itself present to us and demonstrate its love we have to sit still, be quiet and listen with purity of heart. This is an essential part of the formula where we will find our sobriety and serenity.
It is my belief that God does speak to those who remain quiet and have a design to listen. Peace is defined as “an undisturbed state of mind, absence of mental conflict.” Serenity is defined as “a quality or state of being serene; calmness, tranquility.”
The quality or state of being serene all takes time, work and discipline. I believe that the big book of AA says it best: ” When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new employer; being all powerful he provided what we needed, if we kept close to him and performed his work well.
Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in plans, our little designs and ourselves. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of his presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or hereafter.. We’re reborn.” ( Page 63, AA).
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SOURCE: Copyright(c) I’ll do it when I feel better. (2014) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville. Pages 36-38. The Promises of Depressed Anonymous.