It is a harsh reality, but what we do in life—good or bad has consequences. My first inclination is to say “get over it”, but that is a bit unsympathetic and not the best advice. Instead, I say, “accept it”. Accept it because it is what it is, and we cannot change it. All we can do is move forward.
How we move forward determines our happiness or unhappiness. Happiness is, after all, a choice. If choose an external locus of control, we likely always be unhappy. We will be blaming and full of excuses. If, however, we take responsibility for our actions and their subsequent consequences, we will waste no energy blaming others and move on.
“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune” (William James). This is an important thought to remember when things don’t go our way. Moreover, we need to understand that things happen for reasons that are often beyond our immediate understanding. Experience has shown me to wait and to look for the reason. If I take the approach of acceptance, most certainly the reason will reveal itself. It may or may not have been for my benefit. It may be for the benefit of another—which ultimately serves a greater purpose. (This is Spiritual well-centeredness—to understand that we are not the center of the Universe and that our existence serves something greater than self.)
We saw a local high school production of Spamalot recently. (Perhaps, this is what inspired me to write this?) The song (that is also in Monty Python’s Life of Brian) comes to mind:
“Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”
Cheer up, Brian.
You know what they say;
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle,
Don’t grumble, give a whistle,
And this’ll help things turn out for the best, hey,
Always look on the bright side of life,
Always look on the light side of life,
If life seems jolly rotten,
There’s something you’ve forgotten,
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you’re feeling in the dumps,
Don’t be silly chumps,
Just purse you’re lips and whistle,
That’s the thing.
And, always look on the bright side of life,
Always look on the right side of life,
For life is quite absurd,
And death’s the final word,
You must always face the curtain with a bow,
Forget about your sin,
give the audience a grin,
Enjoy it, it’s your last chance of the hour.
So, always look on the bright side of death,
Just before you draw your terminal breath,
Life’s a piece o’ sh*t,
When you look at it,
Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke it’s true,
You’ll see it’s all a show,
Keep ’em laughing as you go,
Remember that the last laugh is on you.
And, always look on the bright side of life,
Always look on the right side of life,
Come on, Brian cheer up,
Always look on the bright side of life,
Always look on the right side of life,
Worse things happen at sea, you know,
Always look on the bright side of life,
I mean, what do you have to lose?
You come from nothing,
You go back to nothing.
What have you lost? Nothing!
Always look on the bright side of life.
(Written by Eric Idle)
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!