Considering acceptance.
Acceptance is defined as the action of consenting to receive
or the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable.
I am Gina Ferrara and in thinking about acceptance,
These seemed to bother me,
These definitions,
Because I do need to accept things in my life and sometimes I need to accept
things that are not always what I wish to have occur.
So I do push away the definitions that
make me feel that I am being obedient or I am acquiescing or compliant or submissive or passive.
I looked at some words that were synonyms or similar words to acceptance and I found one
that really resonated.
Receptive.
Receptive.
It speaks to me of accepting in and not putting forth resistance.
And when I have resistance in my life,
This is often where difficulties really begin and I have
trouble moving through conflict.
Now John Kabat-Zinn,
In Coming to Our Senses,
Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness,
Makes this statement about acceptance.
Acceptance doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean passive resignation.
Quite the opposite.
It takes a huge amount of fortitude and motivation to accept what is,
Especially when you don't like it,
And then work wisely and effectively as best you possibly can
with the circumstances you find yourself in and with the resources at your disposal,
Both inner and outer,
To mitigate,
Heal,
Redirect,
And change what can be changed.
These are indeed insightful words.
So I want us to take a moment to consider what that means.
Acceptance.
Acceptance.
I see acceptance as not being resistant and to allow in what is right in front of me in this
moment.
It is how I also look at the word intention.
Allowing the world to come at me
and allow it to pass through knowing that I will always be able to return back to it
and make the shifts that I am able.
Acceptance is not passivity.
It is responsibility,
Perception,
Choice.
It is the recognizing of resistance to what is right here.
And working with that,
With that concept to understand it,
To notice the negative patterns
that surround it,
And to create and make an effort to practice moving out of those patterns.
Now,
We do not have to accept negative behavior or dangerous situations.
But I do believe we have to understand that they may be present in the moment.
Our responsibility could be to hold patience and offer the time that is needed
to get through the situation and try to figure out how it is,
If it is,
That I may have some impact on changing what is happening.
What can I do to help myself work through this?
Is it through meditation?
Is it through talking with others?
Seeking outside guidance?
Finding safe space?
Working on my breathing?
Or perhaps just simply switching focus?
Allow what is ever coming up into your mind right now in terms of acceptance to just be there.
Perhaps you can say the words out loud,
The images out loud,
The feelings that are coming up,
That are bubbling up.
You could perhaps recite them aloud or jot them down.
But I will suggest that we take a few minutes in quiet,
Bringing in Reiki healing energy,
Just to help with the balance
and the peace and the calm that's needed to sit in meditation.
And then we'll come back in a few minutes.
With the balance and the peace and the calm that's needed to sit in meditation
with the moment that we're in.
So take a breath in,
If you can,
And allow that exhale to help your ground and to release any tension or anxiety that may have
been built up by thinking about this concept of acceptance.
And we just ask to be open and accepting of Reiki energy in this moment.
And know no matter what our focus is today,
Reiki will always be here
and work with us for our highest and greatest good.
And focus for another moment on your breath,
On a breath that seems comfortable.
Breathe in acceptance.
Breathe out resistance.
Breathe in acceptance.
Breathe out resistance.
Breathe in acceptance.
Welcome in acceptance.
Release resistance.
Welcome in acceptance.
Release resistance.
And in a few moments,
We'll go into some quiet meditation.
But I offer these affirmations if you would like to use them.
May I move when necessary from resistance to acceptance.
May I move when necessary from resistance to acceptance.
May I move when necessary from resistance to acceptance.
I appreciate the positive things in my life.
I appreciate the positive things in my life.
I am at peace with this present moment.
I am at peace with this present moment.
And breathe in.
We offer gratitude for the moments with Reiki healing energy.
And gratitude toward ourselves for being willing to
sit in this present moment and think about acceptance in our lives.
I'd love to hear your comments about how you manage the word,
The concept of acceptance.
Be well.
May you journey toward peace.
