“Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.” – 12 Step Programs
Let’s start by getting clear about what it means to accept what-is and what it doesn’t mean.
What It Means. Acceptance is the act of making peace with what-is. When we are able to accept what-is, we release resistance and move into allowing.
Even in the five stages of grief by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance – the goal is acceptance.
What It Doesn’t Mean. Acceptance does not mean giving up, putting up with, settling, or believing we’re stuck with something we don’t like.
When it appears that things have gone in a wonky direction, it’s easy to push against the problem. Pushing against, complaining about, running away from what-is – all popular responses to unwanted scenarios – do not get us where we want to go. Resisting what-is functions to strengthen and energize the very thing we do not want.
“What you resist persists.” – Carl Jung
Example. I’ve been working with a formatter to offer my ebook, Dining at the Cosmic Café, in paperback on Amazon. I had proofed it carefully before offering it for sale and I knew it was ready because I held a perfect copy in my hands.
And then . . .
I found out people were receiving copies that had been printed upside down and backwards! Grrr! I was disappointed, to say the least, and I admit it did take more than a moment and several rounds of EFT to find my way to acceptance, but I sincerely wanted to feel better and stop activating a disappointment vibe!
Amazon assures me the problem has been fixed and they will replace any improperly printed copies upon request.
Another thing to know about acceptance is that accepting what-is is the first step.
The second step is focusing on what we prefer. Both steps are required if we want to move from where we are to where we prefer to be.
In my example above, I had to remove my focus from the Grrr bad Amazon disappointment Grrr and refocus on what I do want – Get your act together, Amazon! I want my readers to receive perfectly printed books they will enjoy!
If you’re currently resisting, pushing against or even tolerating something unwanted, try this two-step process *find your way to acceptance, then *flow your energy toward what you would rather experience.
As we make peace with what-is – even things we might consider to be egregious – we release resistance and raise our vibration. We are then in a position to focus our high vibrational energy toward what we do want, thus aligning with the solution rather than the problem.