Life isn't fair. it's a bummer, but it's absolutely true. Ironically, recognizing this sobering fact can be liberating insight.

one of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It's not and it won't. when we make this mistake we tend to spend a lot of time wallowing and/or complaining about what's wrong with life. "It's not fair," we complain, not realizing that, perhaps, it was never intended to be.

One of the nice things about surrendering to the fact that life isn't fair is that to keep us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it's not "life's job" to make everything perfect, it's our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that every one is dealt a different hand, and everyone has unique strengths  and challenges.

The fact that life isn't fair doesn't mean we shouldn't do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don't recognize or admit that life isn't fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do.

When we do does recognize that life isn't fair, however, we feel compassion for others and ourselves. And compassion is a heartfelt emotions that delivers loving kindness to everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustice of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. you maybe surprise that it can nudge you out of self-pity and into helpful action.