Working with centering, grounding and meditation/relaxation brings us into a quieter space where we can view our thoughts and feelings from a different perspective. Being able to observe these energies as they present themselves without becoming enmeshed with them allows us to move toward emotional intelligence, spiritual expansion and personal freedom.
Acceptance is flexing an important spiritual muscle.
Acceptance is one of those feelings that are grossly misunderstood. Acceptance does not mean passivity or the condoning of violent or malicious acts. Acceptance merely means to acknowledge a given situation ‘as is’. Instead of using precious energy to resist or fight in vain, you are open to many more possible and potent outcomes. It is truly amazing to watch what happens when you truly embrace a deep inner experience of acceptance… perhaps the most amazing thing is that so many problems simply fall away!
Acceptance moves you to neutral where you are apt to see more clearly where the best efforts are to be made in a given situation. The calmness that accompanies acceptance can open you to wider perception and it helps you to move from a position of blaming to one of resolving problems.
You may find it easier to begin developing acceptance with areas less volatile than personal issues. Try the weather! Notice when you have a reaction to the weather not cooperating with what you hoped for or needed on a particular day.
How do you usually react to such situations? Do you go along with it, accept it and adjust to it? Do you let it consume your energy, leaving you frustrated, tired and depleted? Look for these “energy leakages” in your daily life. They are perfect opportunities to practice building new skills such as acceptance.
Tolerance for diversity results in richer experience, growth and connection for all.
Areas of Greater Challenge Notice the occurrences in your day that seem to invite you to become willful, argumentative, or insistent on your way or the highway! Notice areas of your life or situations where you may feel (or assign) blame, shame, fear or even embarrassment. For instance, how do you really feel about your body? Do you accept it as is or are you always hoping or wishing for a different weight or a different shape? How about relationships? What challenging or difficult relationships do you engage in regularly? Is there someone in your family or perhaps at work that always seems to “push your buttons?” Are you comfortable with your Self? Do you genuinely love and truly accept yourself just as you are or do you try to be someone you’re not? How about your financial situation? Do you accept it as is and move forward from there or do you blame others for where you are? After you take a true look at yourself, you can broaden the circle and look within your family, neighborhood, town, or state.
Notice how you feel about each situation. Notice if you collapse into feelings of overwhelm or even anger, feeling as if “life is being done TO you”, or as if things will never change.
Acceptance is about inclusion rather than exclusion. (This has to be dealt with on a deeper level than just the cognitive.) When you are inclusive, you are flexible and open to different ideas, situations and people. You set judgment aside and you work with “what is” … whatever it is. Acceptance can be a surprising door to change …one that you walk through more effortlessly than when you were tied up in resistance.
Whatever area you choose to begin with developing your power of acceptance, a deeper connection to your inner self is required. Initially out of necessity you may become aware of how you resist life… where you cause yourself physical, emotional and/or spiritual pain. However with the expansion and awareness that acceptance brings you will be embracing greater space, time, opportunity, flow and freedom to live from.
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