What does radical acceptance actually mean?
Rebecca Alexander, LCSW-R, MPH, RYT, PLLC
Psychodynamic Psychotherapist | Author | Keynote Speaker | Disability Rights Advocate | Extreme Athlete & Accessible Fitness Coach
Acceptance. Self-acceptance. RADICAL Acceptance... these seem to get thrown around like "buzzwords" and their significance gets overlooked.
So what does "Radical Acceptance" look like? Let's break it down ?
Fully accepting things as they are, instead of disassociating, avoiding, denying, or wishing the situation was different, is a crucial step in moving through a difficult experience to a more meaningful one.
It’s important to note that although radical acceptance means we accept/acknowledge something, that does not mean we have to like it or agree with it. It's not saying you are okay with a painful event, an injustice, or giving in to it. Instead, radical acceptance is acknowledging what has happened and that it cannot be changed.
By not accepting the reality of the present, you can increase suffering. Practice being mindful of any resistant behaviors. The more you practice radical acceptance, the better you will become at it. ??
The “radical” part of acceptance is the full acknowledgment of reality with your mind, body, and spirit, in your entirety. It is accepting (acknowledging) reality completely and totally and facing these realities rather than making it worse or resisting it to help ease your discomfort.
Are you willing to try it??
Founder at Nextstop Media, LLC
1 年We cannot change most of what happens around us, but we can change our reactions to these situations. Therein lies our power and serenity. Excellent perception, Rebecca.