In life, we can’t control everything. And, sometimes, we find ourselves having to adapt to situations that don’t suit us. We can fight, we can resist, but it always ends up exhausting us and making us unhappy. So how do we go about it? How can we accept and let go to find inner peace? Here are 5 great tips for accepting what you can’t change!

1 – Learn to let go and accept what you can’t change

In life, we fight a lot of useless battles that exhaust us and gradually make us unhappy. What is a pointless battle? It’s when we try at all costs to be right, or when we try at all costs to resist something that is!

Yes, we’ve grown up with the belief that we can control everything, that we must control everything even! And when things don’t turn out the way we’d like them to, we feel vulnerable, and anger takes over. What if we learned to let go and accept the things we can’t change?

You can’t control everything. You can’t control everything. It happens to everyone, every day. You don’t have to control everything; you just have to be happy. So I wholeheartedly invite you to ask yourself this question when you’re fighting a situation with all your might: “Is it more important for me to resist or to be happy in spite of it?”

Letting go means calming our ego, which takes things personally, to return to our heart, which longs to taste happiness, peace and joy. What do you think?

2 – Accept to play with life

We live with the desire to control everything, to organize everything, to plan everything down to the minute. But we often realize that things don’t go according to plan. Life likes to throw a wrench in our plans. And how do we usually react? We’re frustrated, sad, angry. In fact, we lose our inner peace and joie de vivre.

And yet, when we take a step back, we realize that we’re not here to plan everything, nor can we. In fact, we’re here to play with life first and foremost. With what’s good and what’s not so good. That’s just the way it is.

Each of us holds different cards, and we have to learn to play them to the best of our ability. Once again, that’s the way it is. And, what can help us accept the things we can’t change, is to understand that life never comes to punish us, but to teach us to be courageous, persevering, determined and humble. What do you think?

3 – To accept what you can’t change, you have to learn to come back to yourself.

All too often, our gaze is drawn outwards: to others, to our environment, to the external circumstances of our lives. And we can’t change much about any of these things. We can change our own environment, but we can’t change that of others. We know this, and yet we keep our attention riveted on this frustration, and we can no longer live in peace.

That’s why, to accept what is, I wholeheartedly invite you to come back to yourself and your own actions. In fact, learn to act for yourself, according to yourself and without trying to control others and the whole world.

Because accepting what you can’t change means realizing that you can’t control everything, that you don’t have to control everything. And, rather than feeding your frustration, anger or sadness, come back to yourself, come back to what you do, because it’s important to you. On a smaller scale, but on the most important scale: you.

4 – Choose to cultivate your joie de vivre rather than dwell on negative thoughts

Every day, we see and hear bad news that shocks us. We wish we could change things, but we can’t always. Even if we feel strongly about them. So, are we condemned to live in frustration, anger or sadness?

No, because we can change the way we look at things. In fact, rather than seeing everything that doesn’t suit us and that we can’t do anything about, we can see everything that does suit us in our lives and focus on that. In fact, it’s all about understanding that, despite everything, life is beautiful.

Yes, life, the world and other people don’t have to be perfect for us to see beauty in them. So come back to your joy, to the simple everyday things that make you smile. Accepting what is means choosing joy. It’s stopping focusing on what’s missing, on what’s wrong, and concentrating on the little rays of happiness that light up our lives. What do you think? Will you do it?

5 – Practise gratitude to accept what is

Not everything is bad! Even if they say it on TV, even if you say it to yourself. Yes, there are things that upset you. As is the case for me too. But when I feel the frustration is too much, I choose myself, and that’s what I advise you to do too. In fact, we’re not here on Earth to change the world or to change other people. We’re here to be happy with what we have.

I’d go even further: you can’t change the world by vibrating with negative energies like frustration, anger or sadness. In fact, we change the world with our joy and our hopes. In other words, don’t let yourself be contaminated by your disappointed hopes and battered values. All is not well, but it’s not all bad either. The proof is that you’re here reading this article.

That’s why I invite you to take a moment right now: close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths. Then, list 3 things that make you feel grateful to be alive here and now. In fact, it’s essential that you realize that you can be happy, even if everything around you isn’t perfect. So let go, be happy despite everything, and accept what is.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Accepting life as it is: 4 steps to greater serenity
Discover Fear of change: 7 tips for accepting change

I recommend this inspiring book:

The Serenity Prayer by Elisabeth Sifton

Elisabeth Sifton’s exploration of The Serenity Prayer delves into the wisdom of accepting what cannot be changed. Drawing on the profound message of prayer, the book offers ideas for finding serenity by acknowledging and accepting life’s uncertainties, guiding readers to meet challenges with grace and resilience. This is an in-depth reflection on the principles of acceptance and the transformative power of letting go of what is beyond one’s control.

Very interesting points of view, appreciated writing style, deep, articulate, but very readable. Interesting blend of spiritual and political times. Biographical, but also from a broader perspective. Especially if you already know something about the characters.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself