# Is there a word for the concept of inner peace that comes from accepting that things won't work out **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422 "2018-05-18T19:25:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/21 "2018-05-20T14:04:38Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Well, there is [nirvana/satori](http://www.zen-buddhism.net/buddhist-principles/four-noble-truths.html) from Buddhism. The idea is that the root of all suffering is desire–wanting to have things that you don’t have and wanting the world to be different than it is. Learning to let go of those desires leads to nirvana (nevermind it not being originally English.) That was my first thought, and I think it’s safe to say that “nirvana”, at least, is an English word at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/22 "2018-05-20T20:58:54Z")
Via [cracked.com](http://cracked.com) : apparently the Japanese have a specific idiom for “Something that is no use worrying about, because however bad it may be you can’t possibly change its outcome” : shikata ga nai, literally “it cannot be helped”. A kind of Zen resignation, albeit somewhat hopeful/happy in tone nonetheless. Which makes sense : when the worst is already happening, what’s the worst that can happen ? :} ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/23 "2018-05-20T21:12:29Z")
If we get into phrases and sentences, one that helps me is “Things don’t go right, things don’t go wrong, things just go.” ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/24 "2018-05-20T23:16:38Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Stoicism? > > [Stoicism - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism) > > [INDENT]Stoicism is predominantly a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to happiness for humans is found in accepting this moment as it presents itself, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by our desire for pleasure or our fear of pain, by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly. [/INDENT] Stoicism though does not just assume that things won’t work out. It promotes being prepared for that and accepting it when it happens. It really is the philosophy of the serenity prayer: accept what is outside of your ability to change, accept that pain and suffering are an unavoidable part of life, and focus not on avoiding those things but on those things within your power to impact, with an emphasis on being concerned with our obligations as citizens of the world. There’s something different about the condition described by the op - the sense of _release_ gained by resigning to defeat and _by giving up the striving_ one has done. The stoic was always accepting that defeat was possible and was always ready to accept either achieving or not achieving the goal after best possible efforts, well, stoically, as the way nature ordained it. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/25 "2018-05-21T01:26:37Z")
I’m learning to live without you now But I miss you sometimes The more I know, the less I understand, All the things I thought I knew, I’m learning again I’ve been tryin’ to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it’s about forgiveness Forgiveness Even if, even if you don’t love me anymore - Don Henley ---
**Author:** ![CharmaChameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CharmaChameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharmaChameleon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/26 "2018-05-21T05:28:18Z")
And then there’s the notion of “corban”. That is the idea that, if you will accept it, “Hey, yep, you’re my parents, and I ought to take care of you during your dotage. Except this: I’ve already pledged a whole **lot** of money to support the Temple, and so on, so I just can’t take care of you.” I don’t think Jesus Christ thought much of that idea: [https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Corban](https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Corban) That’s what I think. Think for yourself, okay? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/27 "2018-05-21T11:45:12Z")
(Let’s see how many people get this one.) Saroon. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-the-concept-of-inner-peace-that-comes-from-accepting-that-things-wont-work-out/814422/28 "2018-05-21T19:08:51Z")
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