Acceptance. It is sometimes a bitter part of life. The unfair situations, the frustrated moments, the problems that just can’t (and maybe shouldn’t) be fixed. Acceptance is not defeat. It is not giving in. It is not a weakness. It is a form of serenity. It is being okay with the way things happened, especially if it didn’t play out in your favor. Sometimes acceptance comes with disappointment, and sometimes it comes with relief. If you’re somewhat of a control freak like I am, accepting things the way they are is difficult and even frustrating. Sometimes you can want things to be different so badly that you lose sight of why they are the way they are.
Right now I’m in the middle of job searching* and I have pretty ambitious aspirations for myself. There are plenty of jobs out there that I would succeed at, that pay really well, but I just don’t have enough experience for at the moment. It’s hard to accept the fact that a dream position that I want right now will have to wait 3-5 years until I can apply and have a fighting chance. But, it is what it is. The best thing I can do is look at the situation differently, be optimistic about finding a job that will make me as happy as possible, and be patient for myself and my future.
There are countless situations I find myself in where I had planned a different outcome, and was disappointed tenfold by something I never had to begin with. Some of my favorite lyrics by the band 311 come from their song Flowing; “You can’t be let down if you don’t expect the world.” These words have so much power to them. So often I overhear people yearning for their future, planning out each milestone in their lives. When good things happen to them that don't quite match their highest hopes, they feel disappointed instead of appreciative of the amazing things they have. They let their expectations drown them, stifling life's happy moments. My philosophy on life is aim high, but expect nothing. Let life take you by surprise.
| In all honesty, acceptance is an aspect of my life I need to work on. This is a bad habit of mine I’ve had my whole life, and I don’t like admitting it. When things don’t go my way, my first instinct is to rework the situation into a more favorable possibility. I push for things, and sometimes I don’t know where to stop and accept it for what it is. It causes me to be my own worst enemy on some days, and I’m realizing it’s a destructive habit that just isn’t worth it. The quote I want to include with this one is some of the best life advice I’ve come across. Read it, reflect on it, and see how you can apply it to your life. |  Found on Pinterest. |
*I began writing this post in late May and didn't finish it until early July. I have since accepted a job offer for a company where I can learn and contribute my skills in a meaningful way. I feel like I subconsciously didn't publish this post right away because after writing it, I got what I needed out of it. Now was the right time to share this advice with everyone else. I hope it is helpful to you.
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