How do you deal with things you can't control?

The serenity prayer usually helps me put it back into perspective

God/Source/Higher Power/Intelligence… (etc), grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference

Realize that there is nothing I can do to change it and move on I have way to much stuff to deal with that I can control to worry about the things I can’t.

There’s practical solutions for these things that work for me. If it rains, I get an umbrella, if someone is upset with me, I give them some space and I’ll ask about it later.

It’s not too hard to accept that you can’t control certain things so all I needed to do was adjust to them and that has brought me enough satisfaction to get through my days.

Realize: That’s LIFE

This questions really strikes home for me. My best friend’s g/f’s is one of those people who lets EVERYTHING get on her nerves. Someone cuts her off int traffic - grouchy for the rest of the day. Rude customer - grouchy for the rest of the day. Its snowing - grouchy. (And I we both live in Montana - it snows 6 to 9 months a year) She worked for use for a couple months and luckily quite 2 weeks back. Glad I didn’t have to fire her.

But back to the questions. I either take steps to deal with it or just let it roll off me. “Don’t sweet the petty stuff”. If its bad weather I wear a jacket. Winter comes around - I put snow tires on my pickup and wear boots. Someone drives slow infront of me, I curse at them a bit and get over it. Rude or annoying customer - don’t let their bad day drag mine down. If they put me in a foul mood I feel they won, and I hate to lose.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

by Maulana Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th century Persian Sufi poet and sheikh, translated by Coleman Barks

Fifty points for the first person who can correctly identify what Biblical passage the poem is based on! {:^)