How often have heard or used this phrase: “It is what it is.”? Could this actually be a major philosophical point of view? Saying it seems to stop your wishing it could be some other way, your frustration about what’s happening, or your total dismay about something appearing to be not quite right. It is what it is.

What exactly does that mean? It means “I won’t judge it. I accept it as it is or as it appears to be. I won’t make it into anything it’s not. I’ll just say ‘That’s life’ and keep on keeping on. Of course, things may not be as they appear–but sometimes saying, “It is what it is” brings quiet to an anxious or distressed mind. “I’ll give up fighting it and judging it. It is what it is.”

But What About Transformation?

But what if you feel that life is to be transformed? That’s great too. Transformation is really about transforming your consciousness, seeing things from the point of view of the higher self. Truth be told (is that another philosophy?) from the vantage point of our ordinary mind, we don’t know if something is good or bad. An event or experience may be here to assist you to move to a higher level of life–especially if the experience is difficult or seemingly negative. So when you say, “It is what it is,” you may be acknowledging that this experience may seem to be difficult, but looked at from a higher perspective, this might be the opportunity to move to another level of consciousness.

If you lose your home, job, or relationship, this may be what your soul needs to take you to a deeper spiritual level. It is what it is. True transformation doesn’t mean that you shift the events of your life. It means that you shift your understanding of what’s taking place, so that you acknowledge that something profound is happening on much higher levels.

There are other fascinating phrases that we use in ordinary language:

• “Whatever.” This is a big one! It’s used by teens and many others who want to take an almost Zen stance. No attachment, no aversion–just “whatever.” Accepting everything, rejecting nothing. Now this in an exalted philosophy .

• “Let it be. There will be an answer, let it be.” Not much explanation is needed here – and thanks to Paul McCartney, we can leap into faith that if we back off for a while, comfort and answers will certainly come.

• “Whatever will be will be” (Que sera, sera.) This one is basically fatalistic–again accepting everything that may be your destiny since the beginning of the illusion of time.

• “I’m brushing that off my shoulder.” It’s now gone; that’s how you handle it. Obama says he does this one.

• “Just get over it. Let it go.” This may be hard for people who need to cry or grieve or speak their peace. But it works for some.

The question now is–Do we have to accept everything?” Well, you can do whatever you want to do: change, re-do, fix, alter, shift. After all, “It’s your thing. Do what you want to do.” And remember, “It is what it is.”