Acceptance as Self-Care

The act of acceptance means acknowledging the current state of a situation. While you may not like your circumstance, you recognize it as reality. It does not mean you are happy about the situation. It means you are accepting the situation as it is. As an act of empowerment, you can decide to be present and confront the situation head-on.

Acceptance is a continual process. Some days it may be easier to accept your reality than others. It requires a full assessment of the situation. You can then determine the things you can change and the areas where you can pivot. It is possible to accept a situation while rejecting the negative feelings associated with it. You can also actively work to change your perception of the situation and make a concerted effort to manage your expectations and emotions.

Acceptance can be temporal. You may agree to accept a condition for a time under certain circumstances. It does not mean your acceptance is infinite or unconditional. The act of acceptance can also be an exercise in boundary setting. When you establish guidelines, you can decide how long you plan to endure the circumstances. This is a healthy practice that ensures you are putting yourself first. Boundary setting is the ultimate act of self-care.

When you accept things as they are, you exhibit your ability to adapt to your circumstances. While acceptance may require bending your limits, it does not have to break them. Flexibility is a positive attribute to possess and enhanced by boundary setting. While we may not be able to control all the variables, acceptance is more palatable when we control aspects of the situation.

It should be our goal daily to accept our station in life while accepting the things we cannot change and working to improve those we can.

Here’s to your health!