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40 Days of introspection [day thirty nine: acceptance]

www.mypastandpresentjourney.com 

The practice of acceptance is not always an easy one. Not every situation or circumstance that presents itself in one’s life will be easy to face, to deal with, or accept, and yet acceptance is the key to freeing one’s (inner) self of the painful bondage that will hold them if they choose to resist what is. But what happens when that which is is just too painful a reality to bear, or if what is is a broken heart resulting from loss, an untimely reality of death, or a heart-wrenching catastrophic even that changes one’s life forever? Where is the acceptance needed when the pain seems more important than being free? Overwhelmed.

 

Acceptance has no end-date. At any point along life’s journey a choice can be made to resolve that which has been haunting you. At any moment the choice to resist the urge to resist can be made. When a person is open to forward motion, their ability to accept the reality that is before them will be made visible. When one becomes aware of truth, and is brave enough to face its reality—death, loss of job or partner, sudden disability, and so on—one begins to put an energy of clarity into the universe. It is this clarity that guides a person along the oft-tumultuous road of acceptance. When one is emotionally clouded by the illusion of how life is presenting itself, they are unable to find peace. When one is unable to find peace in the situation at hand or in the circumstances of one’s life, rather than move in the direction of acceptance, one easily moves in the direction of fear, denial, and resistance. These three serve only to prolong healing and discovery and, if one is not mindful to watch, these three can lead to depression, anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, and inner trauma. The “Do Not Disturb” sign that one desires to hang over themselves as they seek to hide is not a friend, but rather a sign of detriment dressed in quiet clothing.

 

Moving in the direction of acceptance is a statement to oneself that you realize your reality is as it is in this moment, and that in order to find peace in it something has to give. Moving in the direction of acceptance one realizes that that “something” is oneself. Oftentimes, people stand in their own way of many things, not just their ability to accept something. People unconsciously sabotage their lives in a number of ways by preventing what is needed out of fear of what may result if they paid ‘what is needed’ some attention. Fear rules many and ruins that many more. If peace is desired, acceptance cannot be optional but rather a required practice in the restructuring of one’s psyche. Peace does not “just happen.” Peace is the result of inquiry, resolution and deep inner clarity. These are the three main ingredients of acceptance: inquiry [what is it that I am struggling with, journeying through, or faced with?...], resolution [I am working through what I have discovered as a result of my inquiry, bringing it to closure one moment and day at a time], and clarity [I now realize that things are not always as they appear at first glance, and that there is greater meaning beyond pain. When I choose to see passed myself, I am able to glance at something more. My vision is a bit clearer, and everyday, my clarity deepens].

 

May we always cultivate the ingredients of acceptance, that we find the “more” that exists at the center of what appears to be our tragedy. There is always meaning and purpose beyond what is visible, and when we allow ourselves the open road to struggle, and rage against the wind, we come to realize that that is not what we have to experience; we can in fact call reality reality, accepting its presentation in our lives, and make peace with what is beyond our control and understanding.

For more info: Kissiah@KissiahYoung.com or www.KissiahYoung.com