Accepting Reality

Life is a mixed bag.

And despite the fact that there are plenty of self-help gurus out there that would like to convince us that we have the ability"create our own realities" I have yet to see that reductive statement live up to the hype.

Life is inherently full of ups and downs, highs and lows, and everything in between.

We can't always control things or simply believe or will something to be so.

Things happen.

We don't always get what we want.

There will always be twists and turns that we don't see coming.

There's no way around it. It just is what it is and I believe that the sooner we can accept that reality, the more peace we will feel.

In chapter eight of "You Are Your Choices," Alexandra says that "when we accept reality - not fixating on how we wish things to be - we will be less disappointed in ourselves, in others, and in life in general."

"When we accept reality - not fixating on how we wish things to be - we will be less disappointed in ourselves, in others, and in life in general." - Alexandra Stoddard

I don't think this means that we shouldn't try to improve our lives and seek out things that bring us greater joy, peace, and fulfillment, but that we should do so with a wise, rational mind as our guide. I personally feel most at peace when I seek to balance out my hopes, goals, and passions with a healthy dose of realism.

There really is no such thing as having it all or living a perfect life, so I just feel better when I accept that fact.

I was reminded of this (as I SO often am) when we brought home our adorable little puppy, Charlie. The pure joy I felt watching our new fur ball run around our apartment was quickly contrasted with the middle of the night potty training mishaps and chewed up baseboards (that we ended up having to pay hundreds of dollars to repair). Puppies can be cute, fun, cuddly, and playful, but they can ALSO be mischievous, exhausting, and sometimes even chaotic.

They are all the things.

Just like pretty much everything in life.

So here's to facing reality as we continue to cultivate all that is good and beautiful in this world.

With love,

from Julia

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A note about inspirational quotes: I've noticed that inspirational quotes don't always apply to me when I'm in survival mode or other states of being, like in times of rest or when things are out of my control. This is why I always check in with myself before taking in the messages. If a quote doesn't feel applicable to me in the moment, I simply ignore it and remind myself that not everything applies to me all the time.

A note about my social values: I recognize that not every person has access to the resources needed to be able to cultivate a life of peace, beauty, and joy, which is why I will always support systems and people who are doing the work to move toward a world that supports the basic needs and rights of all people. I believe that "the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members." - Gandhi