“Our new attitudes bring about self-esteem, inner strength, and serenity that is not easily shaken by any of life’s hard times.”

– Life with Hope, first edition, page 68

The concepts of “easy does it” and “let go and let God” have been said in 12-Step programs for years and are well-known mottos. The concept of “taking it easy and taking it as it comes” combines those two ideas perfectly for me. When I think about “take it easy, take it as it comes,” it reminds me that I am not in control of people, places, and things, like the car that won’t let me into traffic, the individual that is not doing the things I think they should be doing, or whatever is bothering me at the time.
At my first meetings in the 12-Step rooms, I would see the mottos “easy does it,” “one day at a time,” and “let go and let God” on the walls and not really get it. Now, as I think of those mottos, I realize the great simplicity and depth of them. Thank goodness I did one other thing: kept coming back.

Final thought: Self-will and instincts are great survival skills, but I have to remind myself to take it easy and take it as it comes.