It’s difficult to accept what we dislike about our lives. We may not be where we want to be, stuck in jobs we don’t like anymore, tolerating relationships that aren’t working or living in a place we’d rather not be. We wish we were somewhere other than where we are. Or, something happened to us, a hardship, that we are struggling to accept. This resistance to our circumstances leads to unhappiness, frustration and angst. The best thing that we can do for ourselves is to try and accept our circumstances. As American philosopher and psychologist William James said, “Be willing to have it so.” Once we accept our lives as they are, we feel better, freer and even more empowered.
Try this: Write down five things that you are not accepting in your life. Now next to these things, write down a positive statement that will help you to see your situation from a new perspective. For example, “I was laid off and having a hard time finding a new job.” A positive statement might be: “This is an opportunity for self-reflection and to potentially find a job I really love.” Read these positive statements whenever you find yourself resisting your circumstances.
What happened when you did this practice? Share your experience and inspire others by commenting below.
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