Hello and welcome to this meditation for acceptance.
When we're able to fully accept ourselves,
Others,
And our circumstances,
We're able to move with life instead of against it.
There's this misconception that acceptance means giving up,
Or resigning to whatever is happening,
But that's not true.
It simply means that we accept the current situation as it is,
And then work from that point,
Versus resisting or fighting reality.
Acceptance can actually be a step toward change,
But it allows us to move from a place of inner peace.
So if you haven't already,
Go ahead and find any comfortable position for you,
Either sitting upright with a straight spine,
Or lying down on your back if that feels more loving and supportive to you right now.
Rest your hands wherever feels good,
And allow your eyes to gently close,
Or gaze softly down in front of you if that feels better.
And start to land here,
Allowing yourself to be present in this moment,
Letting anything from the day or week thus far go,
Anything you may have to do after this practice also go.
You can even tell your mind it doesn't have to solve any problems right now.
Let's take three deep inhales and slow exhales together,
So empty any air out,
And big slow breath in,
Really filling the belly with air,
And slowly exhale.
Again,
Long deep inhale,
Imagining oxygen moving into every inch and cell of the body,
And let it out,
Maybe with a sigh.
Last one,
Deepest breath you've taken all day,
And exhale,
Letting something go.
You can let your breath fall back into its natural rhythm,
And go ahead and take your awareness to the top of the head.
You want to slowly start moving your awareness down the body,
Releasing any tension you may be holding,
Anywhere you may be gripping or tightening.
So starting at the top of the head and moving down,
Softening the forehead,
Quieting the mind behind it,
Allowing the eyes to rest,
The cheeks to soften,
Unclenching the jaw,
Maybe even yawning here,
Moving to the neck and throat,
And then to the shoulders.
Maybe the shoulders drop down and back as they release something they've been carrying.
And go ahead on your own time,
Continuing making your way down the body,
Releasing any tension you may be holding down to the fingertips and toes.
Beautiful.
Just feel this relaxation throughout the body,
Allowing every breath to soften you even more.
Good.
Now bring something to mind that you have trouble accepting.
Maybe it's some quality about yourself,
Maybe it's a loved one's behavior,
Or maybe it's something about your current situation or even the world in general.
Just bring to mind one thing that you're currently struggling to accept.
Now allow yourself to go deeper into not accepting this.
Give yourself full permission to not accept and resist this thing.
Notice,
How does it feel to not accept this thing?
What do you notice in the body,
The mind,
The heart?
Now just for a moment,
Just to get curious,
What would it be like to accept it?
When you move even a tiny bit toward acceptance,
What do you notice?
Now just imagine,
How would it feel if you completely accepted this thing?
How would your life be different?
So notice,
What felt better,
Acceptance or non-acceptance?
Acceptance doesn't mean we have to like or condone anything or resign ourselves to something,
But it allows us to be in harmony with reality,
Which allows us to feel inner peace,
And from there,
We can always take action.
So,
What do you choose in this moment?
Acceptance or non-acceptance?
Allow yourself to make a declaration here,
That you choose acceptance.
Start breathing into your heart space now,
That area in the middle of your chest,
Holding the intention that every inhale expands feelings of peace and acceptance.
And every exhale releases anything you've been holding on to.
Any resistance gently leaves the body.
Keep breathing in through the heart space,
Letting this feeling and frequency of acceptance spread into the entire mind and body.
Beautiful.
Now I invite you to bring one or both hands to the heart,
If that feels good,
And repeat the following affirmations after me,
Either out loud or in your head.
I accept and love myself unconditionally.
I accept others exactly as they are.
I completely accept my current circumstances.
I accept reality.
Now say anything specific that you're in acceptance of right now.
I accept and then fill in the blank with anything you like.
Beautiful.
Take a couple of minutes to relax into this feeling of acceptance and inner peace,
Letting this become a familiar feeling and default way of being in the world.
Beautiful.
Start to slowly come back to the present moment,
Maybe wiggling the fingers and toes,
Inviting movement gently back into the body,
And taking this feeling of acceptance and peace with you.
Taking as much time as you'd like,
Whenever you feel ready,
You can slowly and gently open your eyes.
