A few years ago, I started realizing that I was repeating some of the same patterns with people. The people were different initially, but the result was always the same. I started writing in my journal, using the word familiar and being very honest with myself about the person and situation I was experiencing.

There were two common themes in each situation: (1) I was there, (2) I allowed it.
This variation of the Serenity Prayer can help us through such a situation: “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that one is me.”