“This is the bitterest pain among men [and women], to have much knowledge but no power.” Herodotus (484 BC – 425 BC) Greek, Historian
– Sign up to Zonr for Today’s Full SFZ
~~~
Name a few of the people, places, or things over which you are powerless, lately.
~~~
will.i.am – #that POWER ft. Justin Bieber (4:52)
Herodotus Brief Bio (3:01)
Increasing Memory Power up to 400% Meditation LP (1:010:51)
Analysis on: When Admitting Personal Powerlessness is an Admission that We Can’t Control Everything
Today’s SFZ explores the profound emotional and spiritual journey of admitting personal powerlessness—a central concept in recovery programs like Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). The Serenity Prayer, often recited in these communities, embodies this idea: we must accept the things we cannot change, including people and circumstances. As How Al-Anon Works explains, much of our discomfort stems from our attempts to control situations beyond our influence. When we stop trying to “play God,” we begin to experience a new kind of peace. This echoes the teachings of Carl Jung, who suggested that true transformation begins with surrendering the ego and recognizing forces greater than ourselves.
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions reinforces this by confronting the initial resistance to powerlessness. Instinctively, people want control—control feels like safety. Yet, real healing starts when we stop denying our limitations. A.A. literature clearly states that no lasting recovery can begin without this radical admission. This aligns with philosopher Epictetus’ Stoic principle: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” The shift from resistance to acceptance becomes a source of strength rather than weakness.
Herodotus’ quote captures the raw human pain of understanding without control: “to have much knowledge but no power.” It speaks to the intellectual anguish of knowing what needs to change but being unable to force it. However, recovery offers a paradox: we gain spiritual power when we surrender personal control. Authors like Brené Brown and Pema Chödrön also teach that vulnerability—the willingness to let go—is not defeat but the beginning of freedom.
Mobile Recovery – Spiritual Solutions You can Count ON!
Leave a Reply