Learning to Be With What Is, As It Is

In my 60-odd years on this wild ride called “life”, I can say—without a doubt—this is the most challenging and important concept I’ve ever wrestled with.

There’s no mastering it. Not even close. And why? Because we’ve been conditioned to do the exact opposite. We’ve been trained to bend, fold and break everything to our will—or else, we tell ourselves, we’ll be miserable.

That’s the modern dualistic version of happiness? If things don’t go exactly as I’ve expected, then I’m disgruntled. And when circumstances arise that I find in line with expectations, then I’m “happy.”

Humans have built a world fueled by dissatisfaction, in order to prop up shareholder value. We’re taught we’re never enough. That we must always be more—improve, optimize, maximize, 10x our productivity. And yet, none of these ideas exist anywhere outside the human mind.

Step beyond the world constructed by humans, and what do you find?

No body-shaming. No culture wars. No terrorism. No “us vs. them.” No endless opinions stacking up like a house of cards.

The trees don’t debate their worth. The rivers don’t argue about their flow. The stars don’t hustle to shine brighter.

It’s all being.

So, what does it really mean to BE WITH WHAT IS, AS IT IS?

It means holding space for your thoughts, your views, your opinions—and for the thoughts, views and opinions of others. Knowing that it’s all just perception, flickering reflections from each person’s seat around the fire of life.

It means accepting how little we can control and surrendering to the rhythm of life instead vainly attempting to wreste it into submission.

It means harmony over opposition. Flow over force.

Because whether we fight it or not—life moves, life changes, life is.

And maybe, just maybe, our greatest peace comes when we let it be.