in reality, sometimes s**t happens and there's not much you can do about it, no matter how many times you try to make lemonade, kwim? Sometimes the universe doles out dreadful things in sequence.

The unfortunate corollary to this kind of thinking can also sometimes be that it is interpreted that if you are struggling, it's all your own fault. And, well, no.
I get what you mean, there's no doubt that awful things can happen to us that are beyond our control but your post made me think of 2 women I'm acquainted with. Both of them lost their sons about 10 years ago. I'm sure that we'd both agree that life can't hand you a much bitterer lemon than that. One of these women resolved to be grateful for the time she had with her son and to live her life in a way that would make him proud - she founded a charity called Mahboba's Promise that does amazing work with women and children in Afghanistan. The other woman still hasn't moved on, she has convinced herself that the reason the police have never made an arrest in her son's case is because they are unwilling to and lives every day with the bitterness associated with those thoughts.
One woman has mired herself in victimhood and despite all the aspects of her life that should giver her joy she is miserable. The other one rejected victimhood and is happy and has achieved something wonderful.