To cultivate acceptance is to recognize and acknowledge the reality of what is without resistance to it.
It's having awareness of the facts.
Being able to see the facts of a situation without applying any opinions,
Judgment,
Or bias to them.
It's being able to see the truth.
Being able to see the reality without allowing your thoughts,
Feelings,
And experiences to alter your view.
The areas in which you're looking to foster acceptance can vary in form.
You may be looking to accept certain things about yourself or your actions.
You may need to find acceptance in a certain situation or circumstance you're experiencing.
Or you may be looking to learn how to accept the actions of others.
It's important to understand that there are many things that are outside our control that can tend to take hold in our minds and hearts.
We're also unable to change events that have occurred in the past.
But what we can control is our reaction and response to the situation and to the action we choose to take moving forward.
Acceptance does not mean that you agree with the circumstances or that you're saying that the situation is okay.
Nor does it give anyone else permission to cross your personal boundaries.
The beauty of acceptance is that it lays the groundwork for growth and change.
It empowers you to move forward with clarity.
Depending on the scenario and your past experiences,
Acceptance can be challenging.
Especially when there is a lot of emotion woven into the situation and even more so if that emotion is layered or there is history and depth to it.
It's to be expected that you would have strong emotions regarding something that you're passionate about,
Something that requires a transition,
Or something that causes you great pain.
Your habitual patterns and reactions can also make it difficult to see the truth and cultivate acceptance since resistance tends to be our default.
This can be especially true in times when you're operating without awareness or intention.
Resistance is often the result of an underlying cause such as fear,
Ego,
Or attachment.
It can be deeply rooted and so it's important to examine it more closely using different tools to help you determine the reasoning behind the resistance.
Identifying and owning these emotions allows you to navigate the process with intention.
It's extremely important to hold space for and work through your emotions in a healthy manner.
Acceptance is the act of acknowledging the reality of the situation.
Oftentimes our perceptions can be clouded by past experiences,
Judgment,
Fear,
Attachment,
And expectations that we're projecting onto the situation.
This clouded viewpoint and the inability to accept can keep you stuck and result in greater suffering over time.
By accepting reality and viewing the scenario through a clearer lens,
The clouds dissipate.
Acceptance allows you to remove judgment,
Blame,
And emotions from the equation so that you can gain clarity without becoming immobile or fixated on why or how a situation came to be.
This clarity can help you reclaim your power as you identify the importance of the situation and how much of your time and energy it's worth.
This can be a broad spectrum as some situations may be very minor and just by reflecting you may realize that you're putting so much energy into something that isn't worth the energy you're expending.
In contrast,
The situation can be so layered with complexity and have such long-lasting physical,
Mental,
Emotional,
And energetic impacts that it may take months or years to work through.
For instance,
The weight of emotions experienced when you're stuck in traffic and therefore late for work are going to be vastly different than the weight of emotions experienced when you're grieving the loss of a loved one.
It's important not to discount the minor daily instances,
Though,
Because they serve as opportunities to reflect on your reactions and allow you to practice the process of acceptance so that you're better equipped when met with the more challenging or complex circumstances.
In instances of complexity,
It is important to process the associated emotions,
Seeking the appropriate support and guidance.
Getting clear allows you to be intentional about where you direct your precious energy and to see what,
If any,
Actions you need to take.
Not all situations will require action,
But oftentimes when you alter your lens,
You can reflect on your experience and recognize where there is an opportunity for growth,
Forgiveness,
Or flexibility.
It may also shed light on where you need to create and uphold your own personal boundaries.
You can see what aspects of the situation are within your control.
You can see if there's room to extend compassion and gratitude.
You can begin to approach the situation with the light of love that you first provide to yourself and can then extend out to others.
Only you can make these determinations,
And there's no right or wrong answer.
It's not an easy process,
So be gentle with yourself and know that it can take time.
You may not be ready to accept a situation,
And that's okay.
It's important to listen to your intuition,
Determine what is best for you,
And rather than pushing or forcing the experience,
Meet yourself where you're at with self-love,
Kindness,
And compassion.
It's best to start small and practice daily to help you build consistency in your approach.
With continued practice,
You're allowing space so that your ability to create more acceptance in your life can grow and evolve.
Be sure to process through any emotions that arise regarding the situations you're working through.
Your emotions are valid and can provide you with insight and understanding.
They can also serve as an energetic release.
Meditations,
Breathwork,
Journaling,
And affirmations are all great tools to use in helping you to work through the process of cultivating acceptance.
Be sure to use your support networks and the assistance of qualified professionals as necessary.
Recognize that acceptance can elevate you and with consistency can decrease the suffering that you experience.
If you feel called to do so,
I recommend thinking of a situation in which you'd like to practice acceptance.
In a journal,
List out three columns.
In the first column,
List the facts of the situation.
In the second column,
Tell your version of the events.
And then in the third column,
List out all the related emotions.
This will help you to begin to separate your thoughts,
Feelings,
And viewpoint regarding the situation from the reality and the truth of what is.
It gives you a good starting point for reflection and can help you to see where you need to direct your attention.
I hope you found my perspective on acceptance insightful,
And I wish you peace and growth on your journey with this work.
Thank you for listening.
