I recently came across a simple yet profound piece of advice from Mingyur Rinpoche: “Let life be as it is.” It’s one of those phrases that seems straightforward at first, but the more I sit with it, the deeper it feels. It’s paired with another guiding principle he shares: It’s okay to feel bad,” and “Be present”. Together, these ideas are an excellent way to help us navigate life, especially when it gets messy or overwhelming.
Does “let life be as it is” mean giving up? Not trying to change anything? That would be a common assumption from those words, but it’s not about passivity or resignation—it’s about acceptance.
The Struggle to Control
I think many of us—myself included—spend a lot of energy fighting against the way things are. We rail against the injustices in the world, the things we can’t control, the circumstances we wish were different. And it’s not that these feelings are wrong; they’re often rooted in compassion and a desire for things to be better.
But while we’re busy resisting, we’re also exhausting ourselves emotionally. I’ve noticed how much anxiety and frustration can build up when I focus on things I can’t change—like the news from halfway across the world or the actions of people I’ll never meet. It’s like trying to push back the tide with my bare hands.
Starting from Acceptance
What I’m learning is that “letting life be as it is” doesn’t mean we stop trying to make things better. It means we start from a place of acceptance. We acknowledge the reality of what’s in front of us—whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between—and work from there.
It’s a subtle shift, but it changes everything. When I stop fighting against what is and instead say, “Okay, this is where we are right now,” I feel less weighed down. It’s like I’m no longer carrying the burden of wishing things were different. And from that lighter place, I can actually see more clearly what I can do to make a difference.
Finding Joy in the Present
There’s another layer to this idea that resonates with me: when we let life be as it is, we open ourselves up to appreciation and gratitude.
I was reminded of this one evening when I stepped outside just as dusk was falling. The moon was rising, crickets were chirping, and the air felt alive with possibility. I stood there, soaking it all in, and thought, This is amazing. The world is amazing.
It wasn’t that everything in life was perfect—far from it. But in that moment, I felt a deep sense of joy and gratitude for the simple beauty around me. It was a reminder that even when life feels heavy, there’s still so much to appreciate.
What I Realised
Here are a few things I’ve been reflecting on:
– Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up; it means starting from where we are.
– Fighting against what we can’t control often drains us more than it helps.
– Gratitude can coexist with pain and struggle—it’s not an either/or.
– The small, everyday moments—like crickets chirping or the moon rising—can be a source of profound joy.
– When we let life be as it is, we create space for both action and appreciation.
Why This Matters
I think this matters because life is always going to be a mix of good and bad, joy and sorrow, beauty and pain. If we wait for everything to be perfect before we allow ourselves to feel gratitude or joy, we might be waiting forever.
But if we can learn to accept life as it is—without giving up on making things better—we might find that there’s more room for both peace and purpose. We can hold the weight of the world’s struggles in one hand and the beauty of a flower in the other.
What Do You Feel Grateful for Today?
I write this as an introduction to the video I’ve made to the song I wrote that night under the rising moon. It’s a celebration of life’s beauty—the kind of beauty that’s always there, even when we’re weighed down by the hard stuff.
And it’s great for dancing to!
So I’ll leave you with this question: What in your life do you feel grateful for today? Maybe it’s something small, like the sound of crickets or the way the sunlight filters through the trees. Whatever it is, I hope you’ll take a moment to notice it.
Because this is life. And it’s amazing.
What do you feel grateful for today?
