The Art of Healing – The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference! Serenity Prayer

It’s been three weeks since I ran the Boston Marathon I feel great physically. I did not know that my body could ever feel this good. I am so grateful to God! I am now stretching, doing exercises prescribed by my energy healer/physical therapist, doing core strengthening and running and walking. Every day I make sure that I do something to attend to my physical well being. In tandem with the physical recovery, it is crucial to work on the spiritual and emotional recovery.

Confession time My name is Mary and I am a fear addict. I have had episodes of being absolutely terrified. I bought into the incredible psychology of fear that is happening in the world. And this psychology of fear tapped right into the depths of my soul. What was I really afraid of? I was afraid that just like I dropped to the ground from polio 50 years on June 3, 1959 that my world would once again come to a screeching halt. I was afraid that everything would stop just like it did after my dad suicided when I was 17.

How do I address the fear? I realize that fear is a habit – my thoughts know just what to do to trigger that marvelous solar plexus clutch.(read with sarcasm) I decided that it was time once again to have a real heart to heart chat with God only this time I did so in the presence of my husband asking him for his love and support along with God. And I asked him to pray with me.I wept from the depths of my soul and shared with him the fears I was harboring and had been harboring for so many years.I dared to be vulnerable and open and to ask God and my husband to help me know that I deserve to be free from gut wrenching fear, to feel free in mind, body and spirit and to feel safe and secure in the knowledge that I am God’s child – perfect in all of my imperfections. I am an expert at coping with pain and challenges and anticipating problems; celebrating and expecting great things to happen are very new for me.

I thank God for everything I have right now and knowing that every need is being met right now in this present moment. Every time I feel that fear I recognize it – and release it to God. I replace the habit of fear with the habit of trust. I replace the thoughts of worry with knowing and feeling God’s unconditional love for me. When I imagine a negative outcome for some situation, I switch on the light and I reprogram myself to imagine a positive outcome. But I also know that I have the ability to handle any situation. I get still and listen to God’s Voice within for inspired action and direction. After all – look at what imagining a positive outcome and listening to God’s voice has created in my life: healing from a progressive neurological disease, running the Boston Marathon and raising over $10,500 for Spaulding Rehab Hospital, having a book published and creating a business from scratch. Why am I gonna stop now?

Mary McManus
www.newworldgreetings.com
www.firstgiving.com/teammcmanus