It is What it Is

Photography by William Walther
WjW Photography

“Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” ~ Lao-tzu
 
I am not in control.  This has been a long and tough lesson for me and I am still working on it, but making progress.  From early childhood on, I tried to do everything possible to control a situation so everything would go perfectly and everyone would be happy.  Does that sound familiar to you?  Did it work as well for you as it did for me?  I have come to appreciate that I am not in control and life is so much easier when I go with the flow and accept things as they are in this moment. 
 
I adopted the phrase, “It is what it is” as a way of life during a three-year period when I was dealing with a frozen shoulder.  One day, the shoulder was making more popping noises than it usually did and I asked the doctor if that was good or bad.  The amazing and insightful, Dr. Ron Andelora said, “It is what it is.”  He said it isn’t a sign of anything good or bad, it is just what your shoulder is doing today.  That phrase helped me to put all of life into perspective. 
 
When I become aware that I am judging a situation as good or bad, I stop myself and say, “it is what it is” and accept that this is how things are right now.  Then, I decide if I there is anything I can do about it, or just surrender and go with the flow.  Lao-tzu is correct that we need to be content with what we have and rejoice.  Nothing is lacking.
 
Do you try to control things in your life or go with the flow?

Are there areas in your life that you might adopt the “it is what it is” philosophy?

Are you content with your life? Are you lacking in any ways?