Acceptance and power
Acceptance is a term used a lot in spirituality, philosophy, religion and new age personal growth literature.
It has been the source of many conversations I have had with my clients over the years. It is also a term that has needed much clarifying due to confusion.
The confusion arises because often, acceptance is interpreted as allowing poor behaviour.
For example, let’s say someone is in a relationship where they are treated disrespectfully. If I were to say you should accept the situation, this can be interpreted to mean you should surrender and allow it. However, this is not what acceptance is really about.
Acceptance is being truthful with yourself about the nature of a situation.
This makes more sense when we look at the opposite of acceptance - denial.
When we deny the truth of a situation, we are not accepting it. We are not being honest with ourselves. As a result, we become powerless to choose what’s right and wrong for us.
When we are honest, and we accept the nature of a situation, the power comes back into our hands. As power comes back, you are then in a position to make a choice.
You can either decide to stay with the current situation as it is, you can move on, or you can look to bring change.
Depending on the circumstance and your nature, one choice is likely to be more comfortable and another one harder to execute. The right choice is dependent on the factors of the situation.
Importantly, the situation that may be difficult for you to accept can be used toward your personal growth and development. Can you use the situation to go deeper into self-respect, positive regard and creative problem solving?
Here are the most common situations where I have seen an initial denial, then a need to find acceptance and a positive way forward.
Career dissatisfaction
Business instability
Relationship disharmony
Internal irritability
General purposeless around life
Regardless of the situation, to move forward, we need to accept where we are now. It is as it is.
From there, you can then decide, with a deeper sense of composure and calm power, how to move forward.
Be responsive and responsible. Lead yourself to change with empathy, compassion and courage.
Situations of disharmony or dysfunction can be catalysts for amazing change.
Accept them without judgement and then make your choice.