Then shall his mind change … imputing this his power unto his God.
— Habakkuk 1:11
The answer to what we shall be is contained in what we are now thinking, for we can change our thinking!
— The Science of Mind, page 126
Are There Things We Cannot Change?
One of the most beautiful prayers I know is called “The Serenity Prayer.” It states: “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 last time I said this prayer, I truly realized, deep within my being, that I have the ability to change the things in my life I don’t like!
And why is this true? Because we can always change our attitude about what is occurring. And if we do change our attitude toward what is happening, then our entire experience changes!
Oscar felt that all his co-workers were in competition with him. A recurrent thought was: “They’re out to get me!” He was extremely resentful of his supervisor at work, who repeatedly passed him by when a promotion was available. Oscar was introduced to the Science of the Mind philosophy, which teaches that there is no competition in God, that we are each unique, individualized expressions of the Divine. Little by little he began changing his attitude and guess what? His environment began mirroring back to him his new viewpoint. Almost immediately he was promoted. In fact, the supervisor retired, and Oscar, himself, became the new supervisor! Did he change his supervisor? He certainly did not! He changed the one thing he was able to change — his own attitude!
Today, I take a fearless inventory of my life.In the areas that are working beautifully, I say, “Thank You, God!” In the areas that are not working beautifully, I say, “Thank You, God, for the opportunity to accept responsibility for everything in my life and to change my thinking, change my belief systems, change my attitudes, and change my life!”
