I personally found that when I did not feel happy in a situation or experience I would attempt to control the outcome. When confronted with a painful or difficult situation in life I would feel helpless as I did when I was a child.
In order to feel balanced again, I attempted to control the amount of emotion or the outcome of the situation. This was fighting against myself most times and usually did not have the best outcome anyway. Acceptance was a difficult lesson for me to learn.
Accepting that all was as it should be and living peacefully in the present moment did not come naturally for me. Understanding that the only path to peace and unconditional love is acceptance of what is in front of me was an “aha” moment.
Everything is happening for your greater good. Spiritual growth is being okay with life as it is presented to you. Letting go of the “shoulds” and embracing the lessons as they appear is fulfilling and yes, sometimes challenging. And you will be happier today and tomorrow. Bless you, Catherine