The Things We Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them

There are certain facts of life that we cannot change, unavoidable “givens” of human life and especially of relationships:

• Everything changes and ends

• Things do not always go according to plan

• Life is not always fair

• Pain is part of life

• People are not loving and loyal all the time

We cannot find real contentment in our lives until we acknowledge and come to terms with these facts. This means giving up trying to control them. Then, we start to realize that these givens actually offer us profound opportunities for a new honesty and realism in our lives. We begin to trust what happens as gifts of grace that help us grow in character, depth, and compassion. We accept the reality of our and others’ gifts and limitations. Then our relationships become easier because they are based on what is rather than on our expectations. Most of all, we learn how to open up to our own truth — including to what is frightening, painful, or disappointing — and suddenly discover opportunities for our practice of mindfulness and loving-kindness.

David Richo will use a combination of mini-lectures on each of the five things we cannot change, individual and group practices, and personal sharing. Participants will take home tools for incorporating all they learn into daily life.

Recommended reading: Richo, Coming Home to Who You Are.