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What to do about things that are out of your control
Despite what some would have us believe, there are large numbers of things that affect us in this life that are completely out of our control. What natural abilities we're born with, which family we're born into, what happens with the economy in our country, and of course death are all things we're pretty much completely powerless over.
Terrible accidents or terrible diseases can affect us, people who we wish would love us simply refuse to do so, and those we love will behave in ways that we wish they wouldn't. Then of course there are natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.
Despite the arrogance that some people display, individually we're pretty pathetic creatures when it comes to having power over the universe around us. We cling desperately to the surface of this one tiny planet, fighting off the many obstacles to survival that it throws in our path. What's within our control is vastly outnumbered by what's out of it, no matter how we like to kid ourselves otherwise.
So what are we to do?
Deal with it! Simple as that.
Accept the fact that there are a large number of things we are completely powerless to do anything about. And that nature could, if it chose to, ruin our lives or even kill us without any real effort on its part.
Bad things happen, but then good things happen too. We'd all like to have more power over our existences, but we have to make do with what we've got.
Of course, the history of humanity is one of gaining control over things that were previously outside it. It was impossible to talk in a timely manner to someone outside of immediate earshot not so long ago. Now we have the telephone to do so. Powered flight was considered by some an impossible dream before the beginning of last century.
But these are massive breakthroughs and it's extremely unlikely that you will be involved in even one of these during your lifetime (although that's no reason not to try). Of course, clever people elsewhere will likely make breakthroughs during your lifetime that will hand you a small amount of control over that which you previously had none. Even these breakthroughs are beyond your influence in almost every case, however.
Accept that in many cases you are at the mercy of a universe that's mostly indifferent to your plight. Doing so lifts an enormous psychological weight off your shoulders. Concentrate instead on influencing those things that you can.
And be supremely thankful that you've been given the chance to experience some of the wonderful things the world has to offer at all. For even being born was out of your control, but it happened. And you've certainly had some fantastic experiences in your life, even if they've been counterbalanced with some dreadful ones.
You're alive and aware to experience this big wonderful, terrifying, unpredictable, beautiful universe.
Lucky you!
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