ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance
You reach a state of acceptance when you stop arguing with reality. It is easy become preoccupied with thoughts of “this shouldn’t be” even while knowing “it is.” Acceptance is not limited to external circumstances or events but extends to the entire range of inner experiences. It involves accepting the thoughts and emotions that arise within the mind without getting entangled in them or identifying with them. Acceptance does not imply passive resignation or approval of undesirable situations. Instead, it entails a willingness to see things as they are and make peace with your internal experiences. It involves acknowledging and allowing your thoughts and emotions to arise and pass without struggling against them or getting caught in unproductive patterns of resistance. Through acceptance you can develop a spacious and non-reactive awareness that allows for greater clarity and insight.

Resistance or non-acceptance can have significant negative effects on health and wellbeing. While acceptance involves acknowledging and embracing your thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances, resistance or non-acceptance refers to the refusal or avoidance of these experiences. Denial, avoidance, and rejection are often characterized by a struggle against the reality of the present moment, and an attempt to control or change what is happening. Non-acceptance can manifest as a refusal to acknowledge your emotions and thoughts, dismissing them as invalid or unworthy of attention.

The act of resisting or non-acceptance can create a state of inner conflict and tension if you engage in a constant battle against your thoughts, emotions, or life circumstances. This resistance may amplify the intensity of negative emotions or prolong the duration of difficult experiences. By rejecting or avoiding certain experiences, you may miss opportunities for learning, insight, and finding constructive solutions. It can also lead to difficulties in relationships, as non-acceptance can lead to a lack of understanding and empathy towards others.

Remember that reaching a state of acceptance does not mean that you should passively resign yourself to undesirable circumstances. Instead, acceptance is closely related to the recognition of the nature of mind. It involves fully acknowledging and embracing the present moment as it is, without judgment or resistance. This acceptance is an active engagement with the reality of experience. All phenomena, including thoughts, emotions, and sensory perceptions, arise within the space of awareness. They are transient and inherently empty in nature. By accepting the arising and passing of these phenomena without grasping or aversion, you can cultivate a deep sense equanimity and freedom.

Acceptance can have significant positive effects on mental health and well-being. By accepting your experiences, you reduce the struggle and resistance that often leads to increased distress. Acceptance allows you to observe your thoughts and emotions with greater objectivity and respond to them in a more skillful and adaptive manner.

One key aspect of acceptance is acknowledging that aspects of life are beyond your control. This recognition helps you let go of the futile attempts to change or control uncontrollable circumstances. Cultivating the awareness of the uncontrollable nature of things allows you to view your experiences from a perspective that understands a-causality and grants you a clearer sense of the impermanence of all and everything.
 
Acceptance also involves embracing your imperfections and vulnerabilities. Rather than striving for an idealized version of yourself or constantly seeking external validation, acceptance encourages self-compassion and self-acceptance. By accepting your flaws and limitations, you can cultivate a more realistic and compassionate view of yourself and others.The opposite of acceptance can be described as resistance or non-acceptance. While acceptance involves acknowledging and embracing your thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances, resistance or non-acceptance refers to the refusal or avoidance of these experiences. By accepting yourself just as you are, without judgment or discrimination, you cultivate a compassionate attitude that recognizes the interdependence and interconnectedness of all beings. This compassionate acceptance is a transformative force that can bring about profound healing and liberation.

​Acceptance is an essential aspect of awakening. It involves embracing the present moment, acknowledging the transient and empty nature of phenomena, and cultivating a spacious and non-reactive awareness. Through acceptance, you can recognize your true nature and cultivate compassion and wisdom in your life. Stop arguing with “what is” and just remember to love and be loved. Make that your priority and simply be who you are--your true nature—awakened, alive, and loved.

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