Acceptance is acknowledging your role in your life, understanding that almost all the time, whatever situation you have found yourself in is essentially your doing.
When I say I accept my body, that doesn’t mean I love everything about it. When I say I love myself, which encompasses loving my body, mind, and spirit, that does not mean I consider myself without flaws. I am RIDDLED with them, full of failures, shortcomings, and things I wish I could snap my fingers and change. And still, I accept it all... I know now there is no other choice.
Acceptance is saying I
SEE
myself fully. I know I am not my lowest points and worst traits, and I am not my wins. Walt Whitman said it best: I am wide, I contain multitudes. Bluntly put, there is a lot I like about me and a whole lot of bullshit I am actively trying to change.
Both can happen at the same time.
Sometimes acceptance means acknowledging am not willing to remain in denial about where I am at this moment in time. Admitting that if something is going to change, I need to get off my ass and get to work...
Other times it means I happily own where I am and feel the pride associated with getting myself there.
Acceptance means I am not fighting with reality.
Warning: what I am about to say may offend you. We need to stop fighting to keep your bullshit.
Over the last nine years, I have worked with over three hundred women, some of which have legitimate roadblocks standing in their way, keeping them from easily* achieving their goals. (*notice I said easily, they can STILL achieve their goals, it is just going to take a little more work).
But, and it’s a big one, they make up a SMALL minority.
The rest simply are holding on tighter to their excuses than they are their desire to change.
You cannot be committed to your bullshit and your growth at the same time. Change doesn’t work that way.
You must pick a team, and by listing excuses, even one, you are choosing your bullshit.
People get it wrong; they think acceptance means laying back and rolling over. That by accepting yourself fully, as you are in this moment in time you are somehow waving a white flag and giving up all hope of future change. That couldn't be further from the case. Acceptance is the bravest, boldest, most courageous thing you can do.
It is taking full ownership of your life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Recognizing your role in all of it, understanding entirely that your decisions brought you to wherever you are,
and seeing the power in that.
Because if you put yourself there, you alone have the power to get yourself out.
Acceptance is being aware that while you may not have chosen everything that happened to you, you get to choose your reactions and what you will do with them.
Acceptance is the first step in taking ownership of your life, becoming more than the bullshit you think is holding you back.
Acceptance is looking in the mirror and knowing you are the hero you have been waiting for.
Do you have to love where you are right now? No. Do you have to love WHO you are right now? Nope.
But you have a choice. You can keep fighting it, keep listening to your excuses and your reasons for staying. Tell yourself you don’t have the time, the money, the energy, hold onto your current situation with all you have; listing all the reasons you are staying IN it.
Or you accept it.
Stop fighting reality and make whatever changes you need to make. Bring awareness to any bullshit and get to work. You are bigger than all your excuses.
Want more no bullshit advice around how to listen to, honor and respect your body? I would love to help. Check out the link below for more information on my upcoming program. Registration is open for two more weeks.