Things we cannot change

I want to recommend a book that I talked about in the ongoing classes this week. It's called The Five Things We Cannot Change... by David Richo. Here's an excerpt from the description on Amazon:

There are certain facts of life that we cannot change—the unavoidable "givens" of human existence: (1) everything changes and ends, (2) things do not always go according to plan, (3) life is not always fair, (4) pain is a part of life, and (5) people are not loving and loyal all the time. Richo shows us that by dropping our deep-seated resistance to these givens, we can find liberation and discover the true richness that life has to offer. Blending Western psychology and Eastern spirituality, including practical exercises, Richo shows us how to open up to our lives—including to what is frightening, painful, or disappointing—and discover our greatest gifts.

When you think about it, each of these five things is clearly observable. Richo says it is the ego that fights against these realities and tries to get around them. Learning to accept and also to appreciate each of these givens will truly liberate us. We can appreciate them by using the insight they give us to cultivate both courage and compassion.

UPDATE: Just found this and I think it's in keeping with the above:

If you can't solve it, it's not a problem--it's reality.

-- Barbara Colorose