Do things out of your control ever bother you? This post is for you.

Ha! I have to laugh at the subject line because it reminds me of those commercials you see on TV -- "Do you wish you had more time in the day? Do you think about the future? Do you think about the past? Do you breathe?"

Suddenly, I'm all like "Oh my...I think I have that!"...

It's like Medical Students' Disease -- a condition frequently reported in medical students, who perceive themselves or others to be experiencing the diseases(s) they are studying.

Anyway, I digress....

Let's talk about reality today. NOT reality TV, although I could talk about that too.

I'm talking about reality, like, LIFE.

Reality is always worth talking about.

When our life feels like it's all out of whack, our diet and exercise tends to mimic that. When we're stressed or upset or anxious, we tend to forget about everything else - especially eating right and exercising.

Whenever we're unhappy about something that's out of our control, we are fighting reality. Whether it's traffic, people in our life, weather, and a million other things. Anything that we can't control is what I call...reality.

The less we fight reality, and love what is, the less we'll suffer and the happier we'll be...

...and the happier we are, the less emotional eating we'll do, and the less our health and fitness will suffer.

Why bother loving reality or what is? Besides what I just wrote above, here's why: No amount of wishing or hoping will change it. No matter how much we hope or wish, we can't change things we can't control.

But WHY we insist?

"Why is this happening? Why did it happen? Why is it like this? Why is the bus late!?! Why is there so much traffic!?!? Why is he like that?! Why is my kid misbehaving?! Why is she so unappreciative!? Why is he such a jerk!? Why is my boss so mean?! What are my customers/clients so rude? Why?"

Cats meow and dogs bark! And whatever happened happened. No amount of fighting or hoping can or will change it.

The sooner we become a lover of reality, of accepting what is, the happier we'll be and the less we'll suffer.

Fighting reality is like hoping a cat will bark and a dog will meow.

Don't think for a second I don't freak out. Everything I write is aspirational. However, I do believe we can try to make the best of our lives. I do believe we can *try* to not dwell on things we can't control.

For me, saying, "Cats meow, dogs bark and whatever happened happened," helps puts things into perspective. It reminds that it is what it is. Besides, when is it not what it is?

It reminds me to stop crying over spilled milk.

A cat will always meow. A dog will always bark. And reality...will always be reality.

I find that focusing on things we CAN control, and actually taking control, is far more empowering.

As a bonus, I'll leave you with a mantra that I made up for myself:

"If I can't change what is, I might as well love what is. Otherwise, I'm just going to suffer."

What are some things you fight that are beyond your control?

What are you going to do next time you find yourself fighting it?

-Adam