When life gets tough, there is a natural tendency to want to avoid it.

Fear plays a big factor here. You might pray that a problem goes away without having to do anything. Or, you spend too much time trying to create a certain outcome.

It makes me thinking of that saying "What you resist persists."

Avoiding something it doesn't make it go away, instead the thing you’re trying to avoid just lingers. You start worrying about the "what ifs" rather than living in today. 

Resisting takes up a lot of energy. The more you worry the less serenity you will have. In this blog you’ll learn how practicing acceptance can ease your anxiety in any situation.

Practicing acceptance is an invaluable way to reduce stress and live in the moment. You can learn how to cope with just about anything - as long as you know how.

What is Acceptance? 

Acceptance means facing reality as it is without trying to change or control it. 

This takes continued effort and patience. It’s more of a practice than something you achieve immediately.

When you practice acceptance, you are able to decrease negative thoughts and worry. You stop fighting what’s happening and learn to embrace it.

Practicing Acceptance

When something challenging happens, don't assume a negative outcome. Nothing has actually happened yet. 

Letting go is hard for most of us. Even the thought of letting go of someone or something precious often triggers fear.

Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real which means what you fear rarely happens! 

Instead, focus on staying present in the moment. Bring your thoughts back to what's really happening not what you’re worrying about. Being in the moment is a quick way to get a reality check - which can lessen anxious thoughts.

The Role of Detachment in Acceptance 

Part of practicing acceptance is knowing how to detach from someone else's behavior. Detachment means letting someone experience their own consequences without trying to rescue them. This helps with addiction and difficult behaviors that you want to control or change.

When someone else's behavior is bugging you, it's time to check in with yourself. Do you need to remove yourself and detach? If so, click here to read more on Detachment. 

Detaching lets the other person do their life even when you think they're wrong. This doesn’t mean accepting unacceptable behavior. You have to decide where the line is between what you can accept and what you simply don’t like.

Letting Go of the Outcome

Attempting to change what you cannot control is maddening. Whether it’s people, places or things, it usually takes hitting an “emotional bottom” to be willing to let go.

In other words, when the pain becomes greater than your fear, practicing acceptance seems more doable.

There is a wonderful prayer in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous that captures the true meaning so beautifully.

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."

Repeating this prayer serves as a reminder that you only have the power to control yourself. Once you begin to accept life on life's terms, relationships improve because you stop trying to manage situations that you have no control over anyway.

Click here to read about the power of these slogans How 12 Step Slogans Work.

Final Thoughts

Acceptance isn't easy but facing what's happening in the moment gets you out of the struggle and fear. When we stop worrying about what could happen, we can enjoy what is happening.

Relationships improve because accepting people an situations for what they are is the most unconditional form of love there is!

How do you practice acceptance in your life? Please comment, I'd love to hear from you!

If you're wanting information on codependency counseling, click here.