The Art of Acceptance

Talking about current events in the world today is tricky. It seems no matter what we say, we have angered or offended someone. I feel that what is happening in the world is a direct reflection of what is occurring within ourselves. A lack of acceptance. The world is experiencing a shift of consciousness and change. Shattering, ground-splitting change. 

I’m not just talking about politics. I’m referring to the deep-rooted beliefs that drive our lives, choices, and what we expect from each other. We find trouble when we expect that the things we choose for ourselves are right for everyone.

We all want to become masters. Masters of love, relationships, careers, parenting, forgiveness, compassion, anxiety. We want to conquer our fearful beliefs that bind us so tight, we scarcely breathe. The disagreement lies not in these basic truths, but in how we believe they should be attained. 

The only common truth I have found is that everybody wants to be loved, accepted, understood, and forgiven. Everyone. Period. 

How can we continue on our own path and support others who don’t share our ideas and beliefs? 

In my own family, of which I include my in-laws, siblings and children, there are drastically different views on just about everything. I worried in the past, especially where our children are concerned, that their different beliefs were a reflection of our parenting. 

I’ve come to understand that it is not about us or our ability to parent. We all have our own path and, in that, we have different experiences from which come from different beliefs. It’s okay.

Love is love. How we each choose to express our love is personal choice. 

I believe when we learn acceptance, we learn to love people where they are instead of where we think they should be. We stop trying to show them that our path is better, because it might not be better for them. Can we live and let live? We don’t have to let other people’s beliefs threaten our own. We can stand in our truth and allow others to have theirs. 

Let’s practice acceptance in our own lives and our family and see where that takes us. We may just become not only more tolerant but open to doing things differently.