You can either be bitter about Life, or get better with it!

Simply let go of your desire to control people and be at peace.

A lady we know has been served a divorce by her husband, who has moved in with another woman. Her two sons are too busy building their careers overseas – they don’t have the time to intervene in the relationship tangle involving their parents. So, they send their mother money to provide for her living expenses. And Life goes on for the lady.

But when you meet her, you will not find her bitter. She’s very cheerful, at peace with her Life and her reality – accepting it for the way it is. I ask her how she can be so calm when there’s every reason to be frustrated and grieving. “See, it is a free world. My husband did what he thought was right. My two sons are doing what they think is right. I am doing what I can do best – be accepting of my Life and going on with it, without feeling bitter about it,” she explains.

I find great value in the lady’s perspective. All of us are living an interconnected Life. It is impossible not to be impacted by other people’s choices. Someone’s actions, at some time surely, is bound to cause us stress and angst. But therein lies the challenge and the opportunity. If we are going to respond to everyone’s actions, demanding that our sentiments at least be respected, we will spend all our lifetime fighting. I know it can be difficult resisting a good fight, especially when you feel you are right and that you have been wronged! But if you think about it, to be sure, no amount of fighting someone can necessarily convince them of what they must be doing. So, a better option is to simply let go of your desire to control people and live your Life with dignity and equanimity. If you respond to every provocation you are bound to lose your sleep. Period. But if you let people do what they want, and you choose to remain unmoved by whatever people are doing around you, to you, you can be sure of protecting your inner peace.

There are always two choices in Life. To either be bitter about it. Or get better with it. I will any day champion getting better with it. And you can do that only when you choose not to be drawn into people’s machinations and depressive energies. Simply, let people do what they want to; you live your Life protecting your inner peace – because if you don’t, nobody else ever will!