Radical acceptance means accepting people and situations as they are. It’s about accepting reality, as is, even when it hurts. Many people confuse acceptance with approval, but this isn’t accurate. Accepting the reality of a situation means that you’re moving beyond judging it and you’re looking for possible solutions. Acceptance looks like getting an umbrella when it rains instead of complaining about the storm, it’s budgeting and starting the job search after being laid off, or finding social circles or events that interests you to mitigate your loneliness. It’s looking at your life and saying, this is not what I thought it would be, but this is what I have… how can I find joy or peace in my life, as is.
Let’s put things into perspective, the truth is most conditions are temporary. So learning how to heal through hardships and coming out on the other side, builds your confidence for dealing with similar issues that come to you in the future. Your practice of acceptance actually adds to your ability to live through hard moments knowing that things will get better. Refusing to dwell on things beyond your control allows you to move on. If you practice acceptance, you grow, because you understand that hardship and losses are a natural part of life. Even when you are sad and disappointed, you can find something in most situations that you can use to your benefit if you treat yourself with compassion and take constructive action.
What Does Acceptance Look Like?
To be more accepting, it can be helpful to reflect on your habitual attitude towards yourself, others, or the situation you’re struggling to accept. Cultivate acceptance by noticing your resistance. Awareness will always be one of the first things that opens the door to changed behaviors. Remember, acceptance is not the same as approval. Acceptance refers to acknowledging and allowing your present experience—not necessarily your life situation. Through awareness and practice, you have the ability to increase acceptance in your own life and enjoy the benefits that it may bring.
