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.
Acceptance begins with gratitude. A good practice is to name at bedtime 3 things for which I am thankful during this day. Don’t have to be major events. The act of naming gives me a positive mindset as I fall asleep, putting me in a place conducive to acceptance as I awaken the next day.
Acceptance enables me to relinquish the illusion of control. That illusion is often- if I could understand it I could control it. Or, if I had done this instead of that the outcome would have been different. Trying to control leaves us with resentment, anger and despair.
Having that conversation with the Empty Chair provides one a window through which one can see enough to have a glimpse of empathy for that significant missing person We can begin to accept the actions of that person. A courageous act. The opposite of control.