103 izlenim

Favori ekle

Yorum yap

Share |

News Link

I found a book in my library that I must have bought about a year ago, sometime in 2008. A book titled “The Five Things We Cannot Change and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them.” The author is David Richio. I haven’t read him before though he seems to have eight more books in addition to this one. The book I found looks so clean and neat that this is obviously the first time I am turning a page of this book. Where was it hidden I don’t know.

David Richio seems to have another book titled “The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know”. And I accept tonight must be the right time for me to hear what this book has to say.

*

I live in two cities as most of you know, both in Istanbul and in Fethiye. It is by my own choice. And it is wonderful and quite difficult at the same time. I travel a lot and usually enjoy being active. Yet, there are times that I feel constrained by the necessity to travel to be in the two places that I want to be in, that I choose to be in. Yet, was it really a conscious choice on my part or is this how each step and event along the path of my life leads me to the next, without me being in total control of exactly where I am headed. I look for answers, and I still study and question the principles of creation of what we call the reality of our lives.

I was re-reading another book by John Randolph Price this afternoon about dynamic alchemy or divine alchemy as some call it – about using our mind and whole being to create the life that we want as well as the true nature of manifestation. I really like J. R. Price’s work. I find him unique and genuine although some might find his approach to mind and matter very spiritual. Yet, his aim is help people for them to create down to earth results – a more abundant, healthy, joyful and peaceful life on earth for everyone. He has a lot to say about what is truly in our control.

After I found it this morning, David Richo’s book titled “The Five Things We Cannot Change” has been sitting on a chair by my computer all day. Finally I decided to look into what Richo had to say on our choices and about happiness.

First of all he defines the five unchangeable facts of life:

1-      Everything changes and ends.

2-      Things do not always go according to plan.

3-      Life is not always fair.

4-      Pain is part of life.

5-      People are not loving and loyal all the time.

Before he goes in detail to look deeper into these five facts, Richo talks about the importance of saying yes to what life brings. He believes that the acceptance of what really is can create an opportunity to really live. He calls whatever conditions our lives bring “the givens of our lives” and recommends accepting them as the givens. He believes that if we give our approval and consent to what appears in our lives, then this is saying a complete yes to ourselves, an approval and appreciation of our complete being. Saying yes to pain or joy and seeing all conditions as our gifts that enrich our lives. This reminds me of Byron Katie’s approach “the work” and her book “Loving What Is”, though Richo seems to choose a little more philosophical approach than Katie.  

He also points out to the grace hidden in each unchangeable fact of life. How what may sound bad also encompasses good and grandness in it. He finds the determining moments in our lives to be the times when we accept completely or resist or deny what life brings. These may be said more easily than done on a mental level, yet as I read his book I became aware that deciding to accept life with all that brings us completely is a matter of a decision. A choice that can be made in a moment. Detailed action plans on how to do this or workshops and exercises may not be necessary. This is a big choice and it may not be easy to just let of all expectations, the dreams and hopes and our desire to control our own life as well as the lives of those around us. Yet, could it not be possible to embrace the givens of life as the exercise, as the action plan, to see for ourselves what difference this acceptance does or does not bring?

David Richo is a psychotherapist, yet in his book he also takes into consideration religious and spiritual approaches to life as well, especially Buddhism.  It is not to say that Richo does not offer or suggest proactive action to bring about a happy. He indeed does, yet that is for you to read and find out.

With lots of love,

Zeynep

Angel of the Week:  Productivity

Affirmation of the Week: “I am neither too little nor too much, and I do not have to prove myself to anyone.”  By Louise L. Hay