Sh*t Happens- 7 Unfortunate Things Everyone Needs To Deal With

by Luke Miller Truth Theory 

What is happening throughout the world at this very moment is momentous! A shift in human consciousness, a societal shift in what we deem acceptable. A movement- where people are taking to the streets to protest atrocities. Awareness that did not exist on this level before.

Just a few short years ago sites like the one you are reading from now where not so popular and spirituality was looked on by the masses as a little weird and while we still have a long way to go, all you have to do now is scroll through your Facebook feed to see that ideas and spiritual growth is something that many people like the idea of.

There may be a little disconnect from what is being shared and people actually embodying the lifestyle, but the fact is we are shifting in the right direction and that my friend is a good thing!

One of the things that I have noticed in terms of the reaction I have got to my work is- shining the light on the darker sides of life and spinning it into a more positive message has given people hope and let them know that while life is not all smiles and rainbows you can still maintain a good attitude even through the darkest of moments.

That’s why today I wanted to talk about 8 things that are actually pretty shit, but just a part of life that we need to accept.

Illness-

There is a lot you can do to avoid getting ill, it is not always totally avoidable, but if you take care of yourself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually it will lower your chances of getting sick.

This is something I used to pride myself on, I would never get sick, one day my ego showed up after not being ill for a few years and I was telling a friend about how I never get sick.

Around a week later I got really ill, nothing life threatening just the flu and a really bad cough. But it made me realise how debilitating it can be to be sick, even if it is not that serious.

Getting ill happens, sometimes a serious life threatening illness, sometimes a cough or cold. It is pretty crappy, but just a part of life that we need to accept. The best thing we can do is try to avoid it the best we can, but then accept when it does happen and get on with things!

Arseholes-

You will meet plenty of these in your life, people who seem hellbent on making your life a misery.

Be it the guy it the guy who is driving really fast behind you on the road, the woman who thinks it is okay to jump the cue while you are waiting for your coffee or the boss who thinks it’s okay to talk to you like you are a fool, there will always be people who rub you up the wrong way.

The best thing to do is to assume that the guy in the car’s wife is giving birth and he is late, the woman in the coffee shop didn’t see where the cue started and the boss is projecting his own insecurities onto you.

Even with that you will meet people who view the world in such a different way to you the only thing you can do is assume this person is an arsehole, in that case try to avoid these people and imagine that if your life had played out in the same way theirs had you might act in exactly the same way.

Over active mind-

The over active mind is one of the biggest reasons I hear for people giving up on meditation, guess what- it doesn’t ever stop.

Think of your mind like a wild bull, when you first try to tame it, it will jump and buck and run rings around you. The more you connect with it the more it will get to know you, as the months pass by it may let you get closer and a deeper understanding of its wildness. After a few years you may even build a strong enough relationship that you can call it tame. However there will always be external circumstances that will call for it to return to its erratic and wild nature.

Thinking is natural, we are supposed to think, we are supposed to daydream. If your mind is overactive and seems to be working on auto pilot then chances are you need to tame it a little. But never make the mistake of thinking you will have complete control over it.

Death-

It is hard to cover death taking into account everyone’s belief  systems. But for most people losing a loved one is not a good experience, especially if it is as a result of a tragedy.

The thing with death is- it is one of the only things we can guarantee, it’s hard to know exactly what is waiting for us on the other side, but if you spend so long worrying about death that you forget to live, this is the biggest tragedy.

Cherish yourself and your loved ones because life is precious and what’s here today could very well be gone tomorrow. If you have something nice to say to someone, say it! If you have loved ones around you don’t forget to appreciate them. Treat everyday as if it is your last because one day it will be!

Physical Pain-

You stub your toe it is shit. You have a bad back it is shit. You are so immersed in the world around you that you walk bang smack into a lampost (true story) guess what- it is shit.

Some physical pain is preventable or can be fixed, other physical pain is not. The only thing you can do is to try the best you can to live with it and know that without the pain you will never feel the pleasure!

Your Expectations-

We all have expectations of ourselves, what we think we need to live up to, the goals we set and what we think we need in order to have a good quality of life. This is not always a bad thing, but can be when we are too harsh on ourselves and expect more than we are capable of producing in our current moment.

This gets even more complicated when we start to project these expectations on the world outside of ourselves. We go to the gym, so we expect our friends and family to go to the gym. We meditate, so why on earth would our loved ones not want to.

Even strangers, the way they talk to their kids, if they claim welfare or benefits of some kind or have a belief system that differs from ours. It can become easy to judge if you are not careful.

The more we expect from others, the more let down we will feel and it really doesn’t matter how hard you try you will always have some kind of expectation of people.

Expect less, accept more, this is the key!

Others Expectations-

In the same way we have expectations of ourselves and others, people will also project their expectations on you.

They might tell you to get a different job or a different partner or that you should stop eating organic food as it is a waste of money or that you should get out of the house more or stop spending your money as you need to think about the future!

Whatever it is, some people will expect the world from you, the best way to deal with this is to surround yourself with like minded individuals. Bar that, don’t play the game, find your own identity and be courageous in living your true purpose. Know what you stand for and do not compromise because someone thinks you should! Be bold, be brave and don’t settle for a life that is a projection of someone else’s insecurity.

Miscellaneous Shit

Of course you have the trivial things that can often be blown out of proportion like getting stuck in traffic, not being able to find your keys when you are late for work and a really slow internet connection when you are trying to get down to some funky tunes on YouTube.

These I will put in the shit happens file, because it does and the best you can do is to try and be a good person and contribute (even if it is just a little) to the world outside of yourself!

Before I go I just wanted to say that without darkness there is not light, without masculine there is no feminine. There is Yin and there is Yang and every part of the puzzle is needed for the whole to be realised.

We will never escape the darker side of life, but if you come to know, accept and even love it, you will live a happier, healthier and fuller life. When you learn how you can thrive in your moments of darkness you will become complete, we are all human beings living through the night and day, through Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall (or Autumn for my UK friends), working with Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. Trust the process and let life guide you. Much love, Luke!

Luke Miller is the creator of Potential For Change. He believes that spirituality is the foundation for good health and likes to blend psychology and spirituality to help you create more happiness in your life.Grab a copy of his free 33 Page Illustrated eBook- Psychology Meets Spirituality- Secrets To A Supercharged Life You Control Here

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