Acceptance can be a powerful and transformative tool but it doesn't happen automatically. Different situations may present more challenge to accepting.
What is acceptance?
Acceptance is the ability to see things as they actually are in the present moment. Acceptance does not mean you have to like or agree with how things are. It does not mean you cannot work to change the circumstances of a situation in the future. Acceptance is the willingness to see things as they are right now, to let go of the expectation that you want things to be different or that you wish for things to be different.
Learn more about what acceptance is, read Understanding the Power of Acceptance.
How to Practice Acceptance
- Develop awareness around non-acceptance. Notice when you are not accepting. Develop the awareness of your thoughts, actions and patterns. How often are you wishing things to be different?
- Be curious. Once you notice when you are not accepting, you can begin to ask yourself “are there certain situations that I more often than not am not accepting?” “Why am I not accepting right now.” Are you more accepting of others than yourself, or vice versa or the same. Begin to notice.
- Practice. Meditation practice helps us practice focusing our mind and noticing when thoughts arise. We can apply this practice of awareness to noticing when we are not accepting.
Join us in the practice of meditation. Mondays, 8pm ET/5pm PT on Zoom. Or in-person in NYC beginning May 23rd. Classes are freely offered with the option to donate. Each weekly class is 30 minutes long with 20 minutes of a guided meditation and 10 minutes of a mindfulness learning. Check out the class schedule here.
Photo Credit: Photo by Pawel Czerwinski