Here is this week’s installment of Sunday SAGe, an email communication that shares wellness inspiration from The Wellness Ethic to help people thrive during the coming week and beyond.

The Art of Accepting

An excerpt from The Wellness Ethic:

A truth about human existence is that all humans who have ever taken an earthly breath—billions and billions of sentient beings—have lived their lives filled with dichotomous experiences: joy and suffering, struggle and ease, birth and death, and everything in between. There are no exceptions.

Understanding the nature of human existence, in all its unpredictable glory, is fundamental to acceptance. When you expect life to deliver both the desirable and undesirable, you are better positioned to surrender to the moment and accept your circumstances without judgment. If something unfortunate occurs, it isn’t personal. You weren’t singled out. The rational, accepting mind knows it can’t wish away the stupid stuff and only embrace the good. Both are perfect representations of the way the world works.

When you accept your circumstances with a productive mindset—coming to grips with the uncontrollable and finding peace within its limitations—you can begin to move forward.

What It Means

Choosing acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean you like what happened; it means you acknowledge what happened. You’re positioning yourself to move forward.

If acceptance remains elusive, consider talking with a friend, a life coach, or a therapist. They can help you get there by offering an objective perspective or listening without judgment as you process your thoughts and emotions.

Another technique is to divert your mind. Go for a walk and connect with nature, watch a movie, clean your home, read, or listen to music. As your conscious mind focuses elsewhere, your emotions become less charged, and your subconscious mind works toward acceptance. When you distance yourself from a difficult situation, you often return to it with less stress, greater insight, and more optimism, which can lead to an acceptance breakthrough.

To sum up acceptance, I’ll share an excerpt from “The Serenity Prayer” by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. I love the profound wisdom of his words:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Your Call to Action

Think about something in your life that you’re struggling to accept. Is it a life change that makes you sad or has you worried about the future? Or something that should change in your life that you’re avoiding, whether it’s related to your health, a relationship, or an unsatisfying job? Work toward accepting your reality as it is, not how you wish it were. You’ll find that peace will enter your life. You will have put yourself in the best position to move forward.

Have a peaceful week!

The Art of Accepting