The 25 most valuable words in recoveryThe 25 most valuable words in recovery
LOL Sober
Nelson H. breaks down the 25-word Serenity Prayer, sharing how serenity, acceptance, courage and wisdom each demand practical effort in recovery. With humour and honesty, he reflects on how a familiar slogan became a detailed guide for daily sobriety.
10:18•17 Oct 2025
The Serenity Prayer as a 25-Word Cheat Code for Recovery
Episode Overview
- Serenity needs deliberate effort through meetings, connection, movement, rest and reflection before other recovery work can begin.
- Acceptance involves listing what cannot be changed and patiently working towards genuine emotional acceptance of that list.
- Courage often means changing one’s own mindset, ego or small share of a conflict, supported by prayer or trust in a higher power.
- Wisdom about what is and isn’t controllable is needed early in the process, not tacked on at the end.
- Even familiar recovery tools like the Serenity Prayer can reveal new layers of meaning when revisited with fresh attention.
“I've never been plowed over by a dump truck full of serenity.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this LOL Sober episode, Nelson H., an "alcoholic addict" writing under a pen name, talks about how a routine meeting and a familiar reading suddenly hit differently. After revisiting the Serenity Prayer in the 12-step book *Living Sober*, he realises he’s been skimming over something much bigger than a catchy slogan.
He points out that the famous prayer is exactly 25 words long: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Those words might sound simple, but Nelson breaks down how each part involves actual work, not a quick spiritual shortcut. As he puts it, "I've never been plowed over by a dump truck full of serenity" — serenity takes effort.
You’ll hear him talk through what serenity looks like in real life: meetings, phone calls to other addicts, walks, the gym, meditation, even a nap.
He stresses that he has to "get to a serene place before anything else," otherwise trying to sort out what’s in his control is like "buying books for a college class when you haven't been accepted into the college." Nelson also digs into acceptance and courage, tying them to everyday frustrations with bosses, partners, kids, and friends. He focuses on tiny but meaningful shifts, like owning even "1%" of a damaged relationship and asking for the courage to forgive.
Finally, he jokes about how most people add two extra words to the prayer in meetings, turning 25 words into 27 by saying "the courage and the wisdom" instead of "courage and wisdom" — a small, funny detail that fits the LOL Sober vibe. If you’ve heard the Serenity Prayer a thousand times, this episode might make you ask: are you just saying the words, or actually using them?
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