Acceptance Sounds Serious

To accept something is to stop trying to change it.

I’ve found that the process is serious but the aftermath is pure relief, a light heart and a bounce in your step.

Acceptance sometimes feels like a last resort. I had severe osteoarthritis in my left hip and I was trying every method of healing so I wouldn’t have to go through a surgical hip replacement. Finally, after nothing worked to alleviate the limitations in my hip and I ran out of other options, I was faced with two choices. Accept or suffer?

I accepted.

Resistance seems like the opposite of acceptance.

I found my way to acceptance of my need for hip surgery through trial and error and running out of options. When I accessed acceptance, I was able to access love, sometimes in the form of gratitude, for myself, my hip, the surgeon, and everyone who stepped up to help me with the procedure and my recovery.

The love I embodied created the best possible field for a good outcome and total healing.

Acceptance is another trigger for love and healing.

Resistance to a hard diagnosis or difficult situation is so common that I’d call it part of being human. Instead of being a negative sign, I’ve found it to be a beacon showing me I’m on the path that leads towards acceptance, love and the potential for healing.

When my daughter, after suffering with severe digestive troubles, as a young teenager, was told she had to stop eating all gluten for the foreseeable future, she was resistant to this idea.

When my husband was told me he could no longer drive because his symptoms from Parkinson’s made it too dangerous, I was resistant to this new development.  Fear, disappointment, anger, pride and resentment all lead to resistance and are effective blocks to love.

Acceptance is the bridge we use to cross over from resistance towards love.

My surgery was successful, my daughter stopped eating gluten for 16 years and is now healed and can eat whatever she wants, and as I drove Andy to all his appointments and meetings I discovered we enjoyed the time together.

Where do you see resistance and acceptance in your life?

You can also read this article in my column in my local newspaper the Taos News.