The document summarizes a speech given by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale about dealing with problems in life. It discusses the Serenity Prayer, which asks for serenity to accept what cannot be changed, courage to change what can be changed, and wisdom to know the difference. It says that in life there are many things outside of our control, such as our parents or circumstances of birth. However, we can control our choices and responses to situations. Repeating positive behaviors and choices leads to success, while repeating mistakes leads to failure. The document encourages using the current downtime of crisis productively to gain skills and knowledge for a head start once the crisis is over.

1. THE SERENITY PRAYER
“The serenity prayer “ which was given to me, about 40 years ago, by Dr.
Norman Vincent Peale, the man who wrotethe book ‘The Power of positive
thinking’ ,is the answer to overcome today’s crisis.
He was addressing closeto 1000 people. As he came in, he said you people
look so comfortable, calm and relaxed, it seems no body has a problem. He
asked, ’Does anyonehave a problem?’, and everybody raised their hand. Of
course, everybody has the problem.
Then he asked, ‘How many people would like to get rid of their problems?’
Again everybody raised their hand. Then he said, ‘On my way here to this
congregation, I came across a place and I saw there weresome people lying
there relaxed, totally stretched out, they had no problems. How many people
would like to know wherethat place is?
Then, he said two blocks away from here, there is a cemetery, I saw some
people lying there - relaxing, stretched out. They did not have a care in the
world. How many of you would like to get rid of your problems, justlike them?
No body raised their hand. They put their hands in their pocket. Then Dr. Peale
said, Problem is a sign of life.
As long as we havea problemwe are alive. The day we don’t haveproblem we
will be dead. Then he said we cannotsolve all our problems but we can handle
them. And then he talked about this serenity prayer, which I have been
practicing over last 35 years, and I havenot left my home without a prayer.
Itsays:
God grantme the serenity to ACCEPT the things that I can not change and the
COURAGEto changethe things that I can, and the WISDOMto know the
difference between what I can and what I can not.
Now folks, if you analysethis little prayer, you will find-
Everything is not in our controlin life, there are some things beyond it.
I didn’t choosemy parents. neither did you. I did not decide whereI was going
to be born, nor did you. This is my height and this is the colour of my skin
,nothing I can do about it .
Sometimes people are born deformed, whatwrong did they ever do?

2. Bad things happen to good people for no fault of their own, what wrong did
they do?
Many a times in life, wekeep fighting the things wejust cannotchange, and
end up bringing stress into our lives and we become unproductive.
There it said -giveme the courage to change if I can and wisdom to know what
I can and whatI cannot.
Life is full of choices and compromises, seems likea contradiction, but isn’t
really. Let's see how is life full of choices. If I illtreat you, I have chosen to be
illtreated, haven't I? If I light up a cigarette, I have chosen to invite cancer. If I
drink and drive, I have chosen to invite an accident. If I live in unhygienic
conditions or I practice unhygienic routines or I am going to unsanitary places, I
have chosen to invite the viruses.
Keep in mind, weare all free to the point of choice But after we makeour
choices, choice controls the chooser .We haveno more choices.
How is life full of compromises !
Somebody has very well said- we cannotchoose the cards dealt to us, what we
can chooseis how to play the game. And sometimes life gives us lemons, the
choice is ours, do we cry or do we makelemonade?
Now whatis success?
A series of Positive choices in life is called success whilea series of negative
choices in life is called a failure. That's about it. Its simple.
People ask me- ‘People who are successful don’tthey make mistakes in life and
people who are failure don't they do something positive in life .
Answer is, people who become successfuldo make mistakes . But making a
mistake once in a while doesn'tmake a person a failure .
Repeating the samemistake again and again is whatmakes a person a failure.
And doing something positive once in a while does not bring success. Itis
repeating the samepositive behaviour again and again, is what brings success.
At this time of crisis we haveto makesome choices- How do we utilise this
downtime.
If during this down time period wedo not come out upskilled or we do not
come out more knowledgeable or if we do not come out healthier and fitter,

3. then it is not because we lack in time but we lack self discipline and
commitment.
This is time, if we use this time productively, you can get a head start .
The moment, crisis gets over, you are going to get a jump start in life .
GOD BLESS YOU!