What you resist persists

Although I have pretended to understand and believe in the power of acceptance for a long time, the idea of “acceptance” has always seemed weak, wimpy, or like the admission of failure or powerlessness to me. However, recently, I have been struggling to accept certain things about myself, others, and life that I don’t like  

The truth is, I have been scared to embrace acceptance – worrying that if I truly accept aspects of myself that I don’t like, things about others that bother me, or circumstances in my life and in the world that aren't okay with me, then I would resigned from trying to change them and then they would stay the way they are. It seems to me, I always things as good or bad, right or wrong. Yet, I deep inside I know, nothing is ever white or black. Life has many shades of grey.

“What you resist persists” said Carl Jung.   It seems that most of us are resisting the way things are in our lives. Whether it’s with our body, our work, our spouse, our family members, our friends, the state of the world (especially these days), or many other things – we’re often arguing with reality instead of accepting it the way it is.

Even though it can be scary and counter intuitive, acceptance is the first step in transformation.  If we continue to resist, acceptance can be stressful. However, acceptance is not resignation or agreement; it is simply telling the truth and allowing things to be as they are.  When we accept ourselves, others, and life the way it is – we can create a real sense of peace and let go of much of our suffering.  And, from this place of peace and truth, we’re more able to not only appreciate life, but also to manifest the kind of circumstances, relationships, and outcomes we truly want.