When Life Gives You Lemons- Radical Acceptance

This practice will help you accept painful situations that are outside of your control without judgment - reducing your suffering.

Radical acceptance does not mean you agree with what is happening or what has happened to you. Rather, it makes space for clarity and hope as you accept things as they are and gives up the fight against reality. I know that radical acceptance is not an easy practice but it is always worthwhile.

Music is by Sounds For You

Transcript

Hi I'm Nami and welcome to this guided meditation on Radical Acceptance. If you're listening to this please know that you are not alone. We all at times in our lives, Some more often than others, Experience what feels like a conveyor belt of crap, Pardon my language, But that's what it feels like and sometimes that's what it is. We all find ourselves in situations frequently where there is a huge gap between the way that things should be and the way that they are, Between the way we feel people should treat us and the way that they do. This practice is about accepting things the way they are because when we accept things the way they are we are able to create a space in our minds that allows for calm and clarity of thought. You know it keeps us sane, It keeps us healthy, It means that we are able to readjust and recalibrate and keep ourselves well and keep ourselves moving in the right direction. The reason this is Radical Acceptance is because it's so hard, It's so so so hard and it's something that we all need to come back to time and time again because life keeps giving us lemons. So you're among very good company. The practice of Radical Acceptance is about loving ourselves and just allowing ourselves the grace and time and space to acknowledge how we're feeling, Not to judge it, To acknowledge what we're thinking, Not to judge it, To acknowledge how things are, Not to judge the situation, But to accept and create that space which promotes health, Promotes well-being and ultimately allows us to live happier, More fulfilled lives. So let's start by settling in and getting comfortable. You don't need to be in any special position for this, As long as you're comfortable in somewhere you won't be disturbed for a while. If you feel comfortable doing so please close your eyes, Otherwise just adopt a soft gaze, Don't focus on anything in particular, Just allow your eyes to soften, Your nose to soften, Let your face soften, Especially your forehead and jaw. We can carry a lot of tension there. Allow your shoulders to drop and allow your arms and legs to just relax. Now turn your attention inwards towards your center, Find the rhythm of your breath, Notice the in-breath and the out-breath, Notice the in-breath and the out-breath. As you settle and relax, Breathe in a little deeper with each in-breath and breathe out a little longer with each out-breath. Longer in-breath, Longer out-breath, Longer in-breath, Longer out-breath, Slowing you down, Clearing your mind and calming your body, Soothing your nerves. We all experience the glow of red hot burning pain inside us when we fight against what is. The hot burning pain pulsates when someone isn't acting the way we want them to or the way that we feel they should. The red hot burning pain bubbles when a situation is unjust and it's just not the way we want it to be. We feel things are not going the right way and the burning pain rises inside of us and gets stuck in our throats. Our shoulders rise, Our jaws set, Our breath quickens. The red hot burning pain roars with violent waves and tells us that the only way to calm it is to get exactly what we want. The situation must change, It has to change. We've got to change the situation at all costs or the people involved have to change, They must change. The red hot burning pain makes our egos flare up. The other people are definitely wrong. Whatever it is that's going against our wants, Our wishes, Our desires is so unjust. We demonize things, We demonize people, We demonize ourselves and we suffer. We cause suffering to ourselves, We neglect our self-care, Our healthy habits suffer, We become tense and tight with our loved ones, We become fractious and we cause suffering around us. Identify where you feel this toxic pain, Where you feel the red burning pain of injustice, Where you feel the deep sadness and anger of the space between the way that things should be, Could be, Might have been and the way they are. Where do you feel the pain of the way that you've been treated or are being treated by somebody? Just sit with it and acknowledge it. Where is it? What does it feel like? There's no judgment here. There's no judgment here. We all have this inside of us and it flares up from time to time. So just feel where it is for you now and accept it. It is what it is. Now take a deep breath in, Inviting the cool fresh air to cleanse you and calm the storm of your suffering. As you breathe out, Just allow your shoulders to drop. Breathe deeply again and again, Slowly and fully. Allow the fresh air to dim the red glow inside you. Allow each out breath to take it away. You don't need it inside you, It's not helping. Breathing in, Inviting the air in to cleanse and calm the storm inside you. Breathing out, Letting go, Letting go and slowly feeling yourself settle into a place of stillness. This place of stillness is where radical acceptance is born. In the calm space of our deepest selves, It transcends the ego and it understands that freedom and peace only comes when we let go of control and accept what is. Repeat after me, Either out loud or quietly to yourself. I accept who I am. I accept what is. I accept it as it is. I love myself. I acknowledge my feelings and I let go. I accept who I am. I accept what is. I accept the situation as it is. I love myself. I accept my feelings and I let go. Remember radical acceptance is not weak. It's not giving in. It's not surrendering your power. It's not being a doormat, Not at all. Radical acceptance allows you, It allows us to dissolve our expectations and to be present to what really is. Radical acceptance opens up spaces for you to grow, To thrive, To really thrive and without that acceptance we don't have that space. So sit inside with your spirit and imagine your healing hands gently resting on those red places inside you, Accepting the people, Accepting what is, Accepting all of you, Soothing the pain, Soothing the pain, Soothing the pain and cooling the heat and releasing and letting go. As you step through the doors of radical acceptance and as you start to feel lighter and freer and more loving, Remember that you can return to this practice any time you need to. Life is life and this is something we need to cultivate on an ongoing basis. So as we prepare to end this practice I'd just like to say thank you so much for sitting with me today. Go gently.

Reviews

This was just what I needed to hear this morning and I even managed to drift back to sleep to the sound of Naomi's soothing voice. 🕊️🌈🌞🌺🐦

Thank you for helping me accept what is. I will return again and again.

A brilliant meditation on radical acceptance and letting go that I will be returning to again and again. Thank you for sharing your wisdoom and offering us a path toward inner peace.

Just what I needed. I'm ready for the rest of my day!!!!!

Thank you! I have a hard time accepting a number of repeating things in my life, situations or people and this radical acceptance meditation is something I will need to listen to often to try to keep me on the straight and narrow. Beautiful delivery of your meditation. Very calming.