The Five Things We Cannot Change: And the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them

I bought 2 books for reading aloud with my A.A. Sponsor. It has made a huge difference on how I live and deal with life’s curve balls- big and small. Learning how to deal with life without alcohol drowning out Life itself is difficult. This book has helped by teaching me very simple concepts such as “Things don’t always go according to plan” accepting that “given” of life, and just move forward. The more we struggle and try to change what is unchangeable, the more we lose out on this adventure called life. It’s a great book and I’ll be reading it over for sure!!!

I also own a battered, much-read paperback copy, full of handwritten margin notes and underlining. Like so many other reviewers, I found the contents to be supremely insightful and helpful in coping with much of the unpleasantness we find in life.The value in this book is not in just memorizing the list of Five Things we Cannot Change, it's in Richo's excellent writing about how we unconsciously set ourselves up for misery and frustration by not FULLY accepting the five things, and in how to adjust our expectations and responses to the Five Things. He tells us explicitly how a true understanding of the Five Things will reflect in our behavior within a romantic relationship, within a work environment, in the health arena.This book constituted most of my Christmas vacation reading, simply because I am facing some personal and academic challenges and want to approach them in the most adult, least self-defeating manner I can. Once again, I found myself nodding in agreement with much of Richo's thoughts in the book's first half. In the second half, my brow furrowed often as he launched into deeper and heavier interpretations of how we should act if we REALLY Embrace these Five Things. There's enough humor and empathy herein to make it a welcoming read, but it's not at all light reading.Anyone looking for an easy, "read it once and I'll be all FIXED" psychology or self-help book will not find it here. This is the gourmet equivalent to getting oneself out of the ruts/potholes of life. I'm still working on the changes he recommends, and I know it won't be an overnight change. But Richo makes so much sense that I'm willing to keep working and shifting my perspective and understanding, re-reading this volume over again. In doing so, I hope to fully understand (someday) the second half of this book and the spiritual and philosophical implications of which he writes. This is the one I recommend to self-aware friends who seem truly ready to make a personal breakthrough in their own terms.

If you have read the works of the author Robert A. Johnson, "Owning your Shadow", "We", "She", "He", etc... then you will understand that these books by Rico are the natural extension of how to use that information to actually make real changes in your life. Look, just because these three books by David Rico have painfully obvious self help titles, don't judge them based on that. In clear and concise terms, without ever talking down to you or treating you like it's a "For Dummies" book, the author explains the steps necessary to basically let go of the childishness of our mis-spent youth and finally grow up. I included all 3 of the titles together, and I believe that "How to be an Adult", "HtbaA in a Relationship", and "The Five Things We Can Not Change ..." should be read together, so as to have the greatest understanding of what is expected at any one point in your personal Epiphany. It's extremely easy to lie, especially to ourselves. The Ego will grasp at any straw to save itself, and these 3 books basically state the obvious in such a way that only the die hard defeatest could screw up "growing up". Taking personal responsibility for you life's decisions starts by recognizing why you did this in the first place, and why you chose to continue the dysfunctional patterns. I understand that many in the field are recommending these. I suggest a set, the Johnson books, followed by the Rico.... in that order. This is how I offer them to my students who are seeking a better life for themselves. You can't fix someone else, they have to want to fix themselves. These books together give you the answers, and the means to let the dreggs go. These books open the door to a bigger world of possibilities and options for an improved life... and they answer that primary first question, "Why am I like this....". Arwythur

This is basically Buddhist Thought for People Who Find Buddhism Scary. The author has a Christian background, and it shows at times. As a Buddhist, I’m not concerned with aligning with the Divine and such sentiments. But most people are, and this is a good introduction to the notion that when we fight with reality, reality always wins. If we start with accepting reality whether we like it or not, we feel much less distress, and we make better decisions.

I put this book on my facebook page. It has been so helpful. I am a person who shovels sand against the tide. Thank you D. RICHO.

Es un libro fácil de leer si tu primera lengua no es el inglés, me agrada la filosofía de vida que tiene el escritor y es aplicable a todo aquel que busca mejorar su estado emocional.

Amazing book, i'v read alot of self-help/ well being books in my life and the life lessons and messages in this one definitely stuck with me.

Sehr tolles Buch! In einem Tag ausgelesen!

Excellent book to read and ponder

I can't recommend this book enough, read it, it will enrich your life.I would like to give it six stars if Icould.