Acceptance and Ambition
Acceptance is a crucial concept in enjoying a healthy way of thinking. Things in our lives can be divided into two:
- Things we can change
- Things we cannot change
This dichotomy appears trivial and common knowledge, doesn’t it? However, the truth is that many of us get stuck fighting things beyond our control and abilities. The trick would be to tell early on whether the state/situation/problem is within our control. If it is within our control, we should summon all our skills and powers and do our best to change it, assuming that such a change will be rewarding for us in the long run.
I adopted the mindset of doing one’s best from Japan: 頑張る (ganbaru). However, just because you did your best, it is not realistic to expect that you will achieve all your goals and ambitions. Hence, to be more resilient in the face of failures, it is wise to keep your expectations leashed and be ready to accept what might come.
Again, the idea is to confine your expectations, not your ambitions, and be willing to accept what you cannot change.