Now We Can Get On With What Is Really Important

"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."

-- Reinhold Niebuhr

This quote has long been the anthem of Alcoholic's Anonymous and other similar programs and yet I think it applies so widely, no one can claim ownership. Since I write mainly about business in this blog, I think this quote applies so well to the business environment that it was a must to share it.

Just think about all the things we complain about during the day and then think how many of those things are not really in our control to be able to change. The economy for example. We can do what we can do, but in the end, we cannot control or change the economy as a whole; albeit, we do have some control over our own. Think about the other things we don't have control over that we complain and spend time fussing with.

It's high time we accepted them for what they are and leave it at that.

Next. Having the courage to change the things that we can control or change. Of course, there is a long list here I'm sure. We can change our thinking, our attitude, our perceptions, our frame of mind, our work efforts, or our employees, or time schedules, our habits, our punctuality, our cleanliness, our organizational skills, and much, much more. There are so many things that we have the power to change. Celebrate that!

Let us gather our courage to change those things we can change and might want to change.

Last, the wisdom to know the difference. Oh, what a difference there is--and it makes all the difference in our discernment. Let go of the frustration and overwhelming influence of problems outside our control, and rejoice in the fact that the rest of our problems are really opportunities to try again.

What a relief! Now, we can get on with what is really important!