There are times reality smacks us in the face with something we don’t want to accept.
Most recently for me it’s been a medical diagnosis that’s put unexpected limitations on what I can get done. I’m not good at accepting limitations.
99% of me wants to continue fighting reality.
1% is reminding myself of the Stoic phrase: amor fati.
Because there is a third choice beyond fighting or simply accepting “fate” and the reality of what is.
That’s to LOVE fate. To EMBRACE what is.
I shudder to even type that.
And yet, I know it’s what I’ve got to discipline myself to do.
Find a path beyond resigned acceptance.
Find a way to embrace, love and be grateful for what reality has brought me.
Does that mean I don’t do everything in my control and my power to improve the symptoms and deal with the challenges? No!
I don’t believe amor fati is meant to be a resignation and giving up.
My view is that is to challenge us to accept reality and find the gift inside the challenge. Find the things to be grateful for and allow it to push us to be a better version of ourselves.
I can’t do as much physically as I wanted to pretend/believe I could (because let’s be honest I already knew this based on my body before it had a “label”). And that allows me an opportunity to practice asking for and receiving help, to better prioritize and plan my days and to focus on what’s truly important.
Every challenge I’m struggling with I can choose to shift my own perspective of and find the gift inside it. One day, one challenge at a time.
Don’t fight reality or simply accept it. Instead, amor fati.