The Art Of What Is: Acceptance

Hello friend.

This is Martha Golden.

Welcome.

Thank you for being here.

Find a comfortable position,

Whether seated or lying down.

There's no wrong way to do this.

Just as you are right now is exactly enough.

Close your eyes and let's begin by softening.

If you're comfortable doing so,

Let's practice what's called a half smile.

Just the gentlest upturn in the corners of your mouth.

Not a forced grin,

But a tender softening of your face.

Let your shoulders drop away from your ears.

Take an open stance with your body.

Your arms uncrossed,

Your hands resting gently.

Take a slow deep breath in and let it go.

Today we're exploring acceptance.

Radical acceptance.

Let's be clear.

Acceptance isn't aggrievement.

It isn't approval.

It's not giving up.

It's simply acknowledging what is.

It is what it is.

We innately accept those things we like.

Those moments that delight us.

When life goes our way,

Acceptance flows naturally,

Doesn't it?

It's only when we don't like things,

When things aren't the way we want them to be,

That we need to practice radical acceptance.

Over and over again,

Wholeheartedly,

Not once,

Not perfectly,

But repeatedly,

With gentleness towards ourselves.

It's a practice of willingness,

Being willing to meet this moment without resistance.

Bring to mind something you're struggling with right now.

What in your life are you pushing against?

Just let it arise gently.

There's no judgment.

Here's a truth that holds deep wisdom.

Whatever pain we are dealing with,

Mixed with radical acceptance,

Reduces our suffering.

Not the pain itself,

But the suffering.

You are in control of your suffering,

Not your circumstances,

Rather the extent to which you embrace accepting that which is painful.

That's where your power lies.

That's where your freedom lives.

Acceptance is necessary for the possibility of any change.

We can't transform that which we refuse to see.

We can't heal what we won't acknowledge.

Breathe into this moment.

Can you practice opening to it,

Just a little?

Return to your half-smile,

Your open stance.

Let your body be a gesture of hospitality towards your own experience.

You're not inviting pain.

You're simply not rejecting reality as it is right now.

This is where we find our strength,

Not in controlling everything,

But in accepting what we cannot control and discovering we're more resilient than we knew.

As we close,

Take one more deep breath.

Radical acceptance is always available to you.

When you're ready,

Gently open your eyes.

You've shown up for yourself today.

That itself is an act of acceptance.

Peace be with you.