Today on Election Day, and in the days to follow, we could easily let what’s happening around us affect our perspectives about life and our places in it.
Yesterday I asked my husband how he would rank his day on a scale of 1 to 10, because he looked like he was feeling a bit low. He said four.
I asked him what different choices might he have made in hindsight to have had a better day? He said he probably wouldn’t have done anything different. He mentioned a few things he was bummed about and I noted that they were all external things beyond his control.
That reminded of my lifelong aspiration: I want to be so steady and grounded in who I am and in my firm belief that everything works for my good that I can roll with the tide, whether it’s a gentle rolling tide or if it’s a crashing surf.
Certain seasons of life are simply challenging, there’s no other way to spin it. We may not be able to change the circumstances, but we can always change our perspectives and how we’re navigating the waves.
Are we fighting them? Are we flailing about, thrashing around—wearing ourselves out while accomplishing absolutely nothing, except making ourselves feel worse?
I’m reminded of the serenity prayer. “God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Ahhh ... the wisdom to know the difference.
When we have done all we are capable of doing, the last thing we can do is practice surrender and acceptance and Let. It. Go. Easier said than done.
Sometimes I get the simplest impartation of a truth, but it will come to me so suddenly and so vividly. The lesson is as obvious as the sky is blue.
Out of nowhere the other day, I got a vision about living life where I am to concern myself with only my part and surrender everybody and everything else. Many of us know this already, but have difficulty practicing it. By the look on my face in the vision, it was such an obvious way to live if I value contentment and peace.
I had been worrying about something involving other people. Despite numerous efforts, I have been powerless to change the situation to my liking. In this vision, I saw myself glowing with contentment and delight as I walked out life in this ideal way.
I felt it so deeply, that my responsibility is to work on me and what’s within my ability to change. Beyond that, my job is to walk out acceptance and trust as I turn the rest over, trusting that God is going to work everything else out for the greater good of all concerned.
In "watching" this, I could feel peace wash over me, and suddenly, my emotional to-do list got very short. My worries were canceled, reassigned. All of my focus and energy could be dedicated toward what I can actually change and where I can make positive contributions. This perspective will free me up to a lot more joy and peace, and a lot less worry, for as long as I can maintain it.
Acceptance is proportionately aligned with peace. The more accepting I am, the more peace I have. The less accepting I am, the more conflicted, discontented, restless and worried I feel.
How to live and the best perspective to hold just seem so obvious. I hope I can hold onto this and really live it, not just believe it.
Are you willing to believe that everything is working for your good? Are you willing to surrender the idea of “them?” Because as soon as there is a ”them,“ opposition is brought to life, which leads to unrest, conflict, and blame. We can’t be our best selves and live our best lives when we are hosting and harboring negativity.
“Why did this happen?” and “What are we going to do now?” can just as easily be, “How is this going to work in our favor?”
Instead of worry and dismay, we can walk forward with curiosity. We can be expectant of unexpected solutions and provisions.
Seldom do we get to choose what happens or doesn’t happen. But 100% of the time we get to choose how we feel about it and what we expect to gain or lose from it. Today, this week, choose wisely. Remember, no matter how you voted, you can win.
