Controlling life’s outcomes

“Let us open up our natures, throw wide the doors of our hearts and let in the sunshine of good will and kindness.”
~ Marden

Sooner or later each of us has to deal with a life outcome that we didn’t anticipate, plan for or expect. Life is filled with surprises both negative and positive. It is interesting to note however how many of these so-called negative outcomes came from positive causes while some of the positive outcomes came from negative causes. If this is true how is anyone to understand the real meaning of life’s events over the long haul?

It usually comes down to your life philosophy and there are as many life philosophies as there are people reading this message. Life can be perceived as a wonderful adventure or a series of one negative life drama and trauma after another. So, who is to say which is better and why? Every life has its struggles with: growth, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, adversity, discouragement and too many more to list. Every life also has its share of: achievement, love, friendship, joy, blessings, success as well as many others.

In the end, life outcomes are the result of several factors. Here are just a few to think about:

  • Your life’s decisions and choices along the way
  • Divine providence
  • Luck, timing or synchronicity
  • Your personal perspective
  • Your working life philosophy or approach to circumstances, events and people.
  • Your goals, plans, dreams, hopes and desires
  • Your early environment and conditioning
  • Your self-esteem, self-acceptance and self-love
  • Your need to learn certain life lessons
  • Your work ethic
  • Your attitudes

No one can predict the future of a life. No one knows how his/her life will turn out next year or in 20 years. No one is privy in advance, to all of the events, circumstances, people and conditions that will cross his/her path as his/her life unfolds.

Our job is to take what we are given and build the best life we can with what we have at the time with gratitude, love, acceptance and joy. This does not mean we take negatives lying down. It does not mean we don’t try, hope, work, believe, plan and have desire. It does mean however that certain things are not always within our control and we often need to let go and surrender to the divine purpose of our life as it unfolds day by day, year by year.