Serenity and Eating Disorder Recovery

Characteristics of Serenity - Serenity's Function in Recovery

Mar 31, 2009

Serenity - how does one know if he or she has it? No longer is food, body weight or body image the object of obsessive thinking - replacing negatives with positives.

The principles of the Serenity Prayer generally lay the foundation in any recovery program for obtaining serenity. And serenity is one of the recognizable dynamics that one is in active recovery. What does serenity look and feel like?

First, the prayer recognizes the existence of a higher power. Not only the recognition of a higher power, but also the understanding that some qualities need the help of a higher power to be obtained. Isolation ends. No longer is anyone suffering or recovering alone.

Need for Acceptance

Next, the prayer offers an appeal for acceptance. Trying to bail out the ocean with a teaspoon? Lots of wasted energy in that pursuit! Recognizing when situations or circumstances are beyond one's control helps to redirect energy towards more realistic goals and endeavors. Relieving unnecessary stress and agitation, aids in preventing a slip into relapse. The relapse can be a return to disordered eating, drinking, drugging, gambling, etc. There is also the understanding that the perspective of a higher power may be helpful in determining whether or not the obstacle/situation is out of one's control.

Courage and Taking Responsibility to do the Doing

If, after searching out the details, it is determined that whatever the obstacle is, it is within one's ability to change, than one appeals for the internal vigor and strength to make the necessary adjustments. For some, to obtain the internal fortitude might require asking the assistance of God or a higher power. If not God, then who? Sometimes just knowing that others, one's sponsor or recovery group believes in one's ability may provide enough encouragement to pursue whatever needs pursuing.

The Benefits of Wisdom

Knowledge is one quality, how to use the knowledge is what wisdom is all about (online Webster dictionary). One may already have wisdom. However, when wisdom is lacking, reaching out again to a higher power ends isolation and allows external aid to produce suggestions, if not answers.

This marks the end of the analysis of the better known verses of the Serenity Prayer.

How Does Serenity Feel?

According to Roberts and Messenger, serenity is, "an inner peace that is sustained during both good and bad times". There is a sense of community, not isolation, and that community contains God or a higher power, thus community is extended beyond what can be seen or touched.

Serenity allows a person, whether in a recovery program or not, the ability to be flexible, to face the unknown with some amount of equanimity. It means becoming mindful of character defects and seeking to remove them, thus building character and a sense of gratitude for the gift of life and the food necessary to sustain life. Food ceases to be the enemy. Body weight, body image and the scale eventually cease to be the enemies. Acceptance of self slowly builds (Author - Jen, "Serenity Scale" Oct. 18, 2008, stanford.wellsphere.com, eating disorder community, written for a website).

Elements of Serenity

Serenity does not happen over night, though elements of it, even for beginners, can occur at the outset of recovery. Just the mental knowing that a course of healing is underway can offer some sense of calm and satisfaction which can be enjoyed on a daily, even moment to moment basis. Unlike joy, which can be fleeting, serenity is a stable sense of internal peace.

The copyright of the article Serenity and Eating Disorder Recovery in Eating Disorders is owned by Jeannie Delahunt. Permission to republish Serenity and Eating Disorder Recovery in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.