When I think about my life I often get the feeling or desire to change people and things around me which I believe are having an influence on my life. In fact while walking this morning my internal dialogue was fixed on just that subject for a significant part of my one hour walk.
Without going into detail I was focusing on an issue I was having with a friend that I wanted to change but deep down I did know that he wasn’t about to change so why was expecting him to bend to my way of thinking.
Then it came to me in the form of a quotation I have heard many times and one I knew was stored somewhere in my digital journal.
The exact words wouldn’t quite come to me but I could remember the general thought it communicated. That alone was enough for me to put the whole problem out of my mind and switch to more productive thoughts for the rest of my walk.
When I arrived home I searched for it and here it is…
“Universe, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change. The courage to change the things I can. The wisdom to know the difference.”
I’m not sure who I should credit with these wise words but I have now written them down where they are readily accessible. So should I forget them I can quickly remind myself.
There is absolutely no point in me or anyone else focusing any of our precious time on the things we can’t change. It only adds a frustration to life that none of us need.
I recommend this quotation to everyone because far too much angst is given over to issues that are not now and never will be under our control.
All we all need to do is recognise it.