The Cause of Life’s Problems: Our Expectations
In life, many things go according to our wishes, and many things do not. When things go our way, we feel happy and proud. But when things don’t go as we want, we feel sad and tense, and our mood deteriorates. We often forget that there are many things we can’t control. We should focus on what we can control. The things we cannot control are in the future, and we can’t see them yet. Despite this, we often assume that if things don’t happen our way, our lives will become miserable. We don’t know what the future holds, so why should we stay sad?
There’s a saying, “If things happen according to our wish, it’s good; if they don’t, it’s even better because then they happen according to God’s wish.” Some people don’t believe in God. For them, everything happens in its own time. Seasons change—summer, winter, rain, spring—each comes at its perfect time. In summer, it’s hot; in winter, it’s cold; and it rains in the rainy season. Who manages all this? Day and night follow their cycle every day. There must be some force managing all this.
We have another solution—the Bhagavad Gita. If you are confused, read it. It holds the essence of solutions to all your problems. Every problem in this world has a solution in the Gita.
“योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्” – (Bhagavad Gita 2.50)
“Yoga is excellence in action.”
The Gita teaches us to accept both the things that happen according to our will and those that don’t with an open heart. Try accepting them, and you’ll start seeing the path ahead. The Gita also says that when you feel all your paths are closed, bow down to the power that runs the world and seek your paths.
“When one door closes, a thousand paths open up.”
So, find those paths. Look at life with a new perspective. Let go of what is not in your control and focus on what is.
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन” – (Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
“Your right is only to perform your duty, not to the fruits thereof.”
Focus on your actions, not on the results. This thought will fill your life with peace and contentment.
Accept your life as it is, live it fully, and have faith in yourself and the force that runs this universe.
