Courage is another Virtue that is often misunderstood. Courage is the ability to take necessary action in the face of Fear, Doubt, Uncertainty, Defeat or possible Failure. It is also the motivating or driving force in the Positive Realm to effect change. However, in the Positive Realm, "change", by definition is positive. Courage is not utilized in destructive force. It may be used, however, when an apparent negative force is implemented in order to bring about future Positive results, as in the lancing of a wound or in speaking the Truth to someone in Denial.

In practicing Surrender, one must learn the difference between Virtues and Principles. It is essential to meditate and focus on specific Virtues at different times in order to abide and remain in Serenity. One must be able to recognize the presence of Negative Vices and identify the Positive Virtues to which one needs to surrender in order to operate in Principles of the Positive Realm. One cannot defeat a Vice simply by educating oneself, acquiring knowledge or self discipline. These exercises do not produce lasting change. As we have already seen, Change begins with Acceptance. Acceptance is a Virtue that operates in the Positive Realm. As a result, it attracts other Positive virtues and Principles.

One will not attain Virtues and enjoy the accompanying Principles without meditation. A simple definition will not suffice in bringing about the surrender necessary to acquire a Virtue. At first glance, one will assume that he already knows about Humility. However, we will see that Humility contains much more than a simple definition of meekness. Humility is a powerful weapon in overcoming the primal nature and controlling the course of one's destiny.

At first glance this Virtue may appear to be a process. One must certainly go through a process in order to obtain this Virtue. One may never fully obtain, or completely master this Virtue during the course of a lifetime. Acceptance, like patience often requires momentary surrender by virtue of the need for its application. In the process of recovery, this Virtue precedes Courage and the process of change. How does one know when to accept and when to change? Perhaps more experience with Acceptance will help answer this question.

In order to know Serenity, one must first understand that Serenity is a state of being, a place if you will. Obviously it is not a physical location; however, it is a realm. In this realm abide other positive principles such as joy, health, prosperity, success, life and peace. It is a spiritual realm which exists on a plane above our common daily routines and patterns. Nonetheless, it is as real as the chair you are sitting in.

Grief is an essential part of Recovery and a necessary path to Serenity. It is the process of a forced adjustment. Elizabeth Kubler Ross unveiled the stages of grief which have now become well known. However, the connection between the grief process and recovery is not so well known. We will attempt to provide some enlightenment on that process with this article.