Description

Why is it that despite our best efforts, many of us remain fundamentally unhappy and unfulfilled in our lives? In this provocative and inspiring book, David Richo distills thirty years of experience as a therapist to explain the underlying roots of unhappiness—and the surprising secret to finding freedom and fulfillment. 

There are certain facts of life that we cannot change—the unavoidable "givens" of human existence: (1) everything changes and ends, (2) things do not always go according to plan, (3) life is not always fair, (4) pain is a part of life, and (5) people are not loving and loyal all the time. Richo shows us that by dropping our deep-seated resistance to these givens, we can find liberation and discover the true richness that life has to offer. Blending Western psychology and Eastern spirituality, including practical exercises, Richo shows us how to open up to our lives—including to what is frightening, painful, or disappointing—and discover our greatest gifts.

About the Author

David Richo, PhD, is a therapist, teacher, and author who leads popular workshops around the country. He is the author of numerous books including  How to Be an Adult in Relationships and The Five Things We Cannot Change. He lives in California.

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

"Richo gently and compassionately coaches readers. His book will help those seeking personal transformation."—Publishers Weekly



"A lucid, thought-provoking, and illuminating book—a wonderfully useful guide to fluid acceptance of life as it is."—Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star and The Joy Diet

"I started highlighting splendid passages in this book and my highlighter ran dry. The whole book is splendid."—Brother David Steindl-Rast