To accept and learn to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation. To reach a state of acceptance or understanding about something challenging.
This phrase originated in the 16th century from legal and commercial contexts, where 'terms' referred to conditions of agreement or settlement. 'Coming to terms' meant reaching an agreement or arrangement, which later evolved metaphorically to mean accepting difficult circumstances or realities.
This phrase beautifully captures the negotiation we have with reality itself - treating acceptance like a business deal where we must find mutually agreeable conditions with circumstances we cannot change. It suggests that acceptance isn't passive resignation but rather an active process of finding workable arrangements with difficult truths.
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