We humans have a big problem.

We expect everything to be perfect – just the way we want it.

But life doesn’t offer us that. Instead, it offers us chaos, problems, time constraints, stress and a whole lot of difficult people.

It’s easy to be negative these days.

I often hear people say that no matter how hard they try, things still don’t go their way.

Never before have we had so many people just give up and complain.

Each day has struggles and frustration. We often see other people as “problems” rather than assets. And while we want to be kinder and gentler, some days, that seems to be impossible – and our only desire is to scream.

At the core of all this is expectation.

We “expect” things to be perfect, but because the world is a messy, disorganized place, we can never get what we expect.

So what if we expect chaos? What if we anticipated conflict at every turn, problems galore and believed that each person was going to give us a rough time?

While we might never be disappointed – I’m not sure that’s a peaceful way to live either.

The key, I have learned, is neutrality – the ability to see the outside world as neither consoling and loving, nor destructive and painful.

That’s reality. The world is indifferent. It’s not out to get us, as much as we might think it is. The world is just busy doing it’s own crazy stuff.

Neutrality gives us strength. The power of acceptance.

It allows us to stop the fight. Because make no mistake about it – if we fight what is, then we’re fighting a losing battle and it will eat us up.

As you look to the week ahead, perhaps staring at an impossible schedule, facing what you believe will be very difficult situations, with “impossible” people – I challenge you to take a neutral stance.

Nothing will get under your skin. You’ll face whatever comes. And you will smile.