It’s so easy to accept the good stuff when it happens to us. We savor those fortunate moments like a rich, slow melting piece of Godiva chocolate caressing our tongue. (I don’t know of any Goddess who wouldn’t enjoy that!) But when we’re faced with bad news or unpleasant feelings, we fight, ignore or deny them like the plague. We dig in our heels and think, “Not in my lifetime is this going to happen!”

Now, I’m not suggesting you roll over and play dead when life deals you a bad set of cards. You should always attempt to change and improve whatever you can, but sometimes, a tornado sweeps into your life without cause or warning. While you can’t prevent it, you can certainly live through it. That means acknowledging it and adjusting your life to accommodate and embrace it—without anger or guilt. Major setbacks—no life comes without them—are often lessons that help you change your life for the better.

When Suzanne Somers was told she had breast cancer, she refused to be a victim. Just as she had done with the myriad of other challenges in her life (an abusive, alcoholic father, teen pregnancy, single motherhood and a scandalous career episode to name a few), she accepted the illness as another learning experience, however, immediately put the wheels in motion to heal herself. In her book, The Sexy Years, she says cancer taught her that she was surrounded by love and could overcome any obstacle in life. She also learned to appreciate and enjoy the best moments of each day.

By accepting the direction your life takes, whether within or outside of your control, you accept life itself. You become more tolerable of others and more content with your personal situation, whatever it may be at the time. You realize that every event in your life—trivial or life changing, fortuitous or tragic, eventually comes to an end. Nothing ever stays the same. How boring and hopeless it would be if it did. Life will always be a series of ups and downs. For some women, it’s a roller coaster ride. For others, it’s just a few bumps on a rather flat road. Either way, you’ll be happier if you hold on, pay attention and embrace every bit of the ride.

5 Ways to Accept Your Life:

• Say and believe each morning that you are open to whatever the day brings.

• Consider death of a loved one a natural part of life—talk about it, work through it.

• Remember that unhappy events and emotions are temporary—don’t deny them, they’ll come back to haunt you.

• Embrace misfortune; it will make the good times feel that much better.

• Don’t worry or blame yourself for things out of your control—go with the flow.

Excerpted from the book: The Goddess of Happiness, A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss

Debbie Gisonni, aka The Goddess of Happiness™, is an author (The Goddess of Happiness: A Down-to-Earth Guide for Heavenly Balance and Bliss and Vita’s Will: Real Life Lessons about Life Death & Moving On), speaker, happiness expert and columnist for iVillage.com. Contact: http://www.goddessofhappiness.com

Copyright, All Rights Reserved, Debbie Gisonni

• Think Positively


• Be More Understanding


• Rise Above Fear


• Make Peace, Not War


• Give Up Guilt


• Integrity Matters


• Have Patience


• Love, Love, Love


• Dont Compare


• Move With The Flow