Acceptance

Acceptance

Let us explore the idea of acceptance. Often, when we hear this word, we think of giving up our position, submitting to another, being seen as weak – all very automatic responses. What if, instead, we viewed the idea of acceptance as a valuable tool to help us be more present to the moment, to be more awake?

Acceptive and at ease, distilling the present hour, whatever, wherever it is. — Walt Whitman

Can acceptance be used in everyday situations that arise to annoy us? Acceptance of situations that come up and are beyond our control? For example, you are driving down the road, and a car in front of you is going slower than you are. The mechanical, automatic response is to get annoyed with that driver. Similarly, we drive down that same road and a car comes up behind us, too close in our opinion. The mechanical response is to think the driver should have their license revoked.

Everyday common events serve as examples of sleep. We become irritated when shopping and our favorite brand of coffee is sold out. Our phone beeps us, repeatedly, while we are trying to read, and we resent the interruption.

How could these common occurrences be viewed differently? What if instead of becoming annoyed, opinionated, irritated, and resentful – which are such mechanical responses – what if acceptance were introduced?

The way to understand the play of one's life is to accept it. — The Teacher

Such a seemingly simple adjustment to our internal world, but one that requires something within that wishes to awaken, what in the Work is called the steward. Every time we can bring the steward to such a moment, as simple as it seems, and produce acceptance rather than an annoyance, irritation, resentment, dislike, the whole range of negative emotions; we begin to approach the promised world of presence. You are invited to find those simple moments in your everyday life and explore a non-mechanical way of responding and to introduce awakening to the moment.

Always accept the present on its own divine terms. — The Teacher

From our friend, Elizabeth B.

Join the discussion

Anna Pavlova, John Lavery, circa 1910