We may not always be able to choose what happens to us, but we can choose to shift our perspective and look at events as comical, interesting, or as a form of protection. Recently I heard actress and singer, Katie Perry talk about an early failure on her rise to fame. “Rejection is God’s protection,” she said. She’d felt she wasn’t ready for what would have taken place had her work not been rejected by a record company.As a writer and in life when rejection occurs I used to take it personally. This insightful view of rejection made me smile and agree with the simple wisdom of it.

The spiritual perspective allows one to witness what’s going on and step back to look at all things with an elevated perspective. We may not have the freedom to control what’s going on around us, but we can choose to shift our perspective and look at it as comical, as interesting, or as in Katie Perry’s case — a form of protection. Sometimes a shift of perspective is all that’s needed to make life smoother and more bearable. It doesn’t mean that there will be no tears and no pain. These are both aspects of the nature of life. But it does mean that we can decide to laugh at ourselves and recognize the transitory nature of emotions and of all of life.

If there are situations in your life that you wished were different, how might you shift perspective? Can you find the positive in them? Do you see any humor? Life is a game that’s constantly changing. But by keeping a spiritual perspective and trusting that things happen for a reason – even if it’s not evident –  it’s possible to ride through the ups and downs and surf the waves of change without losing one’s bearings.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.