The Secret of Life: The Third Secret

Agreed. We have to accept ourselves as we are, others as who they are and no one should try to assume the role of the One Up there when they are not.Something for us to remember!!

Strange Bill that I read this as my own life is going slightly off kilter! Isn't it weird that when life drops a few little unexpected 'bombs' in your vicinity that the self-examination really begins! I wish it didn't but hey ho. Your article has made me feel a bit happier that I am probably normal but that I also need to get hold of the situation, externalise it, allow some time and then get on with it!

Bill, yet again I can't but say, you summed it up perfectly. In order to be happy one does need to not only accept themselves the way they are, but to accept others, too. I learned this lesson a few years back, because there was a time I wasn't always so happy with myself, but now I have learned that I am who I am. Not to say I can't improve or learn from my own mistakes, but I do fundamentally accept myself for just being me. And as for others, I was raised by my mother to look for the good in all and that is exactly what I do in my life. So, I thank god for my mother, because she truly is the person that I credit for teaching me so many of life's lessons. Thanks for this Bill and you know I have voted up and shared all over!!

Love this, billybuc! I agree completely that acceptance is three-pronged, and also that it takes a long time to come to terms with that knowledge. My difficulty is in finding the balance between accepting and letting go a little too much. I'll find the balance, and regular contemplation brought on by your hubs helps me do so. Thanks for writing! :)

Lovely hub Bill. I am reminded of a Chinese painting in which the translation of the characters was: "Happiness: I don't want this." In other words, to find happiness don't actively WANT it (by changing things), just accept life as it comes.

Fantastic Bill. Really inspirational. I do accept myself and my life and as long as the Lord is a part of it I am truly a happy camper. If you haven't seen it on FB then interestingly enough carol777 posted a great hub on moon signs and I discovered that I am part of a really great crowd as per this sentence from my moon sign - The fish - moons, Leonardo da Vinci, Goethe and Michelangelo not only could benefit from their rich fantasy but also their talent for logical thinking. Now with me being Pisces and all this great company who wouldn't be a happy individual. Passing your super hub on.

Excellent writing and truly a truth. If I say the serenity prayer every morning and night, at least I have a chance at acceptance. Thank you St. Francis and Billybuc

Very, very true. Yet we continue to judge and mi st often, judge ourselves the hardest. Great hub, Bill. As always, spot on! Thank you!

A soulful write-up,Billy! Acceptance is the way to remain cool and enjoy the life. Sometimes, accepting each and every thing for whatever it is, can lead to complacency. And it, in turn, leads to a stagnant point. It becomes difficult to live with such point. Also, going to an extreme to being unacceptable about each and every thing can really be harmful. One needs to understand where to strike the balance about when to accept the things as they are or begin in changing them for better.

This was a very good read for me this morning. I've realized lately just how much I need Acceptance in my life. Acceptance of the past - if you can believe it. There are so many scenarios that I go over and over in my mind and no matter how many times I relive the scenes - nothing changes. Fancy that. Me, trying to change the past. Talk about a futile exercise!! My thanks again Bill.

I think many of us tend to over analyze everything..that is me. Must be my Virgo moon sign. You are so right..living can be simple and we all make it complicated one time or another. I am going to have a simple day today...Really. Great hub and as always you are always on first base.

Sure,Bill! :-)

I will visit US one day(hopefully in near future) and we all shall have a great gathering! :-)

Have a great weekend! :-)

Hi, Bill

My greatest failing in the acceptance area is in the ME department. I am still a work in progress in that area for sure.

You are so right....accept what we cannot change, change what we can...the Serenity Prayer does get the message across to us.

These secrets really will change our lives if we allow them to.

As always I am inspired after reading here...

have a lovely 25th day of the new year.

Sending you those precious Angels to watch over you and yours. :) ps

I have always loved the Serenity Prayer. And while it may be hard to put into practice everyday, still I find it calming. Very well done, Bill. You do have a way of putting into words exactly what we need to hear.

This is a great hub. I think people will be happier and less angry if they just accepted the fact that they can't control everything. Having expectations leads to too many disappointments.

Bill - We should write a book together - as you have mentioned before, we are on the exact same path and our articles could be written interchangeably by each other. :) Another remarkable hub that I will add to my own similar hubs. Voted up and across and sharing with Twtr, FB and more. Hugs.

Awesome message bill, it is so much less stressful if we can just accept life as it is. This does not mean we can not try to improve things, but do it in a way that is reasonable.

Mark

I agree with Curiad, there is always room for improvement but we love our brother in spite of imperfection and hope he does the same for us. Great write.

Wonderful bits of inspiration Bill. I see you have been hard at work here and I am so proud of your success. Rolly is a wonderful friend of mine as well xx

Such a great hub Bill--I love your writing--sharing this one!

I have been wanting to write an article like this for so long. I have all the right thoughts stirring in my mind, but you have put the words together so perfectly. Thank you!

Embrace your differences and those of others. Then seek out others that you can learn from and who are willing to do the same with you. You will soon broaden your horizons and become richer in your life.

Great article Bill..Acceptance, live and let live, roll with the flow..Etc..

Fantastic article. I agree fully about the importance of acceptance. Misery is only optional. :-)

"I discovered that the answers to my seemingly endless questions, were all inside of me."..........

And oh what a glorious moment it is!.....The light comes through, the angels start singing, our mind opens up and our heart takes wing......It's damned MIRACLE...that's what it is!.UP+++

"How about if we all just take a deep breath and allow others to live their lives while we do the best job of living ours?"..Billybuc, this is the one question I cannot give up asking and not accepting a negative for answer! It seems so obvious, if you sit quitely and think about it; seems like the art and logic of this should be as transparent to everybody (as it is to you) and yet for centuries- it does not happen. It seems you have taken on the job to change thinking patterns through your articles. I hope more and more young people read these hubs. Voted up. Sharing.

This is another hub that contains a lot of wisdom, Bill. Acceptance is hard for many people, but it's important.

Thank you for this. Before I got sick I could accept I was one of the best ritualists in freemasonry. I could accept the Lord walked with me.

There is something so comforting about reading own of your hubs. It's like having a secret place where you can read, contemplate and find some answers. It's calming here. :)

BTW, I know what you mean about over-complicating things. I live inside my own head a lot and I am always questioning. It drives my manager crazy. Oh well, story of my life. As long as my family gets what I'm about it's all good.

Billy, this one is profound and beautiful, Yes, we should learn to embrace who we are, and celebrate our differences, it is one of the many things that makes this world such an amazing place.

Imagine!

Sometimes one has to give in to know the other better, and it can be difficult if they don't accept each other, I know how I felt in a foreign country, being accepted was my toughest, apart from the language.

Excellent message, I'm listening, lets hope others are as well.

You make such a valid point, Bill. I find myself more and more saying "it is what it is". Life is too precious to fret over what you cannot change or stop from changing, for that matter. Once you accept and love who you are, and the same towards others, inner peace will be the guiding light.

Deep words Billy, but so enlightening. I like this sentence: "Stop looking at all the things you are not, and rejoice in all the things that you are."

lol... a typhoon and a glass of water....guilty! Been there, done that, and I think...I'm over it. :-) I think it finally sunk in that I am not responsible for the world and I can express my opinion without expecting others to accept it. Self-examination has been a part of me for as long as I can remember and I've made all the mistakes a person can make. When I finally ACCEPTED that others have as much right to their opinions as I do, things began to fall into place. I am in love with life and this journey I am on. More importantly, I love sharing it with others who are still in the process of awakening. In other words, I am grateful to share this journey with you Bill. Every piece your write moves me in the direction I am focused on. Thank you for always moving us forward!

Self acceptance is so important. I learned this valuable lesson on my yoga mat. We can not accept the world around us until we can first open our hearts to the self.

I think the fact, as you so aptly discern, Bill, that we are all unique does make life complicated. Human nature is complicated by the myriad of personalities, and many different perspectives on every conceivable topic. Universal peace would be simple were it not for our unique perspectives, control issues, neurosis, mental illness and all the things that hold individuals hostage. If the world ever attains what we claim to want above all else, that being peace, it will have to arrive on the words of your advise about acceptance of oneself first and then others.

Thank you for a piece of awesomely thoughtful reading, Bill. Your inspirational words have the power to change the world, one person at a time.

I do understand, dear Bill, that despite a positive attitude, there are days that try even the most determined of us. I agree with you that universal peace is an ideal that, realistically, will never be. It is easy to see reality from within the walls of our own homes to those of the White House, and the streets where we live, our children's schools, and our churches, that our differences will never be completely bridged. We each hold onto our own lofty ideas without a willingness to compromise. It is hard to hold onto the ideology of peace when so many wars and so much blood has been, and continues to be shed in the name of religion. You are not alone, Bill.

Love from St. Lou sent to you

"I AM NOT GOD!

Nor, as a matter of fact, do I want to be.

And yet how many do you know who are not happy unless they are trying to control each and every circumstance of their life? How exhausting is that?"

Amen!

The only thing we control is how we react to things in our every day life; and that includes how we perceive ourselves. Very wise words, Billy!

Thank you Bill.

Another amazing article! I think I was born accepting others but the other two are still a work in progress. Great advice to focus on the things I can do rather than how I am inadequate. I'm going to implement that one starting now. I have definitely improved on the accepting the things I can't change. Thanks so much for the tips to achieve happiness. I can never get enough of those.

Who are we to judge? We have the right to judge ourselves - and often - i find folks are terribly hard on themselves!

If we can't accept ourselves - while still working every day to 'be better' - how will we accept others - and how will others accept us!

Peace - like happiness - all begins with the man in the mirror - as you have said as only Billybuc can!

let's open our minds and open our hearts to others - but give ourselves a hug a well - if not first and foremost!

voting up and sharing forward my friend...

Bill....This is a great lesson for any and all control freaks. (Who--me???)

Voted Up+++

Jaye

I used to have a tendency to try and control things, but thankfully I realized that it is not what people need. It only makes you frantic and disappoints everyone. Your thougthts on loving yourself first is a big step for those who want to experience the best in life. As always, a very wise and well written article.

Releasing our control is a huge challenge for most people, but if we can ever manage it occasionally and see that "all is well," it becomes easier. I let go so much more the older I get. Wonderful hub, Billybuc!

Acceptance is the key for sure. Wonderful hub, Billy. It sets us free to just know the truth, and live with it. With a happy heart even. Thumbs up and shared, so uplifting.

Excellent Bill!

As my sweet mother used to say, "Live and Let Live!"

Voted up +++ and sharing

Hugs and blessings your way, Faith Reaper

That is the thing. Sometimes, or many times we forget it- to accept self and accept others and accept what is happening around and try not to change it, and that is because somethings cannot be changed.....thanks for reminding it to us Bill.

voted up useful, beautiful!!!!!!!

When I read this I immediately thought of the saying "it is what it is...". Not sure why yet, but now I will be thinking about this for a while. This is why I like to read your hubs Bill. Thanks.

Billy - I take great comfort in these hubs. They are chock full of insightful self reflection and I especially like the message to love ourselves. Not doing so stops su from truly loving and appreciating others.

I am a klutz and I love this about me. It makes me unique and it has also derived some laughter for others when life had them feeling down.

I am inpatient and because of this, I find many ways to do 100% thinks at once! Further instilling the klutz in me and multiplying the laughter.

I truly enjoy this hub as it makes me see the parts of me I would initially consider negative. After further examination, they turn into positives.

Great write my friend.

Beckie XO

You said it, Bill. The Serenity Prayer says it all.. I need to make that conscious in my mind daily. Once again, THANK YOU for the much needed reminder :) You keep reminding me of these things but it's up to me to actually DO something, right, LOL! It's all really simple. I heard in a meeting one time, if you want self-esteem then take esteemable actions.. Those little cliches are so important for me to keep in mind and apply in my daily life. I need to start writing them down! Hope you are having a great day :)