The 12 step Serenity Prayer

The 12 step Serenity Prayer is a prayer for everyone, not just alcoholics. The prayer was written by Reinhold Niebuhr and is specifically for people who want to break their bad habits, change their ways, and accept the things that cannot be changed. The prayer has been adopted by AA, which is why it is often associated with alcoholism. 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.

The 3 Requests in the Serenity Prayer

There are 3 requests in the prayer: to accept, to have courage, and to have wisdom. It is praying for understanding and acceptance of the things we cannot control and having the guts to change the things we can control. It is also about asking for help because certain problems cannot be handled on your own. Finally, it’s asking for wisdom to know the difference, accepting the uncomfortable, and moving forward in peace. The answers to this prayer will not come easy and will need active participation from the person saying it.