Life as it is

You don't have to be a perfectionist to wish that things would be different from what they are, that your job or mate or life would be better than it really is. You just have to be human. Often we think the grass really is greener elsewhere.

What if, instead, we took seriously what Chinese poet and philosopher Lao Tzu said, "Rejoice in the way things are." What if we embraced life just as it is? How might your life be different if you accepted, gratefully and gracefully, the life and job and mate you do have?

So often we hear the saying, "It is what it is." If that means accepting mediocre work or living with an attitude of resignation, that can have a down side. But if it means accepting life as it is rather than constantly longing for something different, it might lead to a deeper joy. It might lead to a raised awareness of your blessings and the goodness of what's all around you.

Sometimes you need to set goals that make you stretch and grow. There's nothing wrong with that. That's a good thing. I'm sure you know the difference in your own life from that type of goal-setting and the attitude of never being satisfied with who you are and what you have.

Do an attitude check today and see whether you need to change how you see things so you can truly "rejoice in the way things are."