Life is a melting pot of experiences. There will be times when things in our world feel simple, graceful and easy. Other times we will feel challenged, tested and pushed to our absolute emotional limits. This is the divine journey of being human.

Happiness Can Exist Only In Acceptance – Inspiration From George Orwell

It is a strange tendency of this multi layered journey that often when we hit times of challenge, we want to contract our hearts and attempt control the way things are happening. The discomfort of uncertainty can make us panic so much that instead of opening up when we most need to most, we shut down. Maybe we do this because we fear the challenges we face. Or perhaps at some point in life when we felt vulnerable we were taught to ‘harden up’ or ‘be brave’.

The truth is that one of the bravest things we can do is to remain open hearted and vulnerable. When we shut down our hearts, we shut down to life.

Often in those times of difficulty, we tell ourselves stories about why things are the way they are. Sometimes we even play the blame game. All of which is externalising our experience and taking us directly out of the present moment, where all of life exists.

Happiness Can Exist Only In Acceptance – Inspiration From George Orwell

In this mindset we play the victim and decide that life is happening TO us instead of FOR us. We step out of our power and our essence and play way, way below our potential. We abandon ourselves and we run from others. This leaves us feeling disconnected, sad and lonely. All of which contributes to the existing challenge!

Seems kind of silly when we look at it like that right?

So what would happen if we could learn to embrace the difficult times in life with as much genuine gratitude as we do the good times?

When we choose to show up in life in this way we allow ourselves the joy of experiencing life as it IS. We spend less time worrying about the future or pondering over the past and we allow whatever is happening to just be. This is the meaning of acceptance and the only place true happiness exists.

So the next time you find yourself fighting against your challenges, stop. Take a deep breath and remind yourself happiness can exist only in acceptance. I promise you won’t regret it.