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“Deal with life as it is.”

A thought by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend from their book, It's Not My Fault. (pg. 19) Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I know, I know, life can be tough, it really can be.  It may be for you.

Henry and John say, “Do not get stuck in protesting reality for what it ‘ought to be.’ If you give up the demand that life and the people in it be something other than what they are, you will find creative solutions to every difficult situation. And you will be a more loving person.

“And, before you get pessimistic that the person you care about can never change, that is not what we are saying...  you must take ownership for your own situation, whatever it is. If your difficulty is a non-supportive husband or wife, accept the reality of the problem and take ownership of dealing with it. Then and only then will you be able to find the best solution. If you just remain stuck and complain that he or she ought to be different, and you remain powerless and miserable until that person changes, then you are stuck in a prison. Take back the power. You can be free from whatever situation surrounds you to the degree that you are willing to take responsibility and ownership for it, even if it’s not your fault.

“People turn bad relationships around every day. People turn bad backgrounds around every day. People turn their unfair lives around, every day. How do they do it? By putting their arms around reality as it is, owning their situation, and taking responsibility for it. Do that and you’ll be way ahead of the world. And that is what this book is about—we want to awaken your power to thrive, in spite of less-than-ideal situations—whether they are bad relationships, bad backgrounds, or bad circumstances. It’s all up to you. Only you can take the first step: you can choose to give up your demand that life be something that it is not, and own it for what it is. Accept that reality and stop protesting it. So, it’s raining. You can get an umbrella and make a nice day out of it, or you can go out and complain about getting wet. It is up to you. Give up ‘fair’ and get a life.”

Would you do that?  Would you?

Yes, yes!
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