acceptance

Acceptance is the theme of today’s talk.

Why do we struggle so much to accept what is happening to us in the present moment?

Within us there is a huge resistance to life. From this resistance, this struggle, all our anguish is born. Whereas, if we could but accept everything that is, we would be relaxed and we could enjoy life more. The lucky ones are those who have come to this level of acceptance.

Of course, many of the things that we ordinarily struggle against are really quite outwith our control. We grumble and moan about decisions made by politicians. Yet what can we do to change such things?

Underneath this huge struggle – this reluctance to accept – underneath it, there is a need to be in control. We want to be in control of our life. And why? That need to be in control is itself born of fear and lack of trust; a lack of trust in existence, or God, if you prefer that word; and a fear, a great fear that somehow life will damage us, destroy us, if we do not maintain control. All of this psychology, deeply embedded in us, leads us to resist life, to struggle against it and not to accept what is. Huge energy is tied up with this on-going fight against reality. We know no peace when we live this way.

So what does it take for acceptance to come; not just in an individual instance but as a way of living, a way of being in the world? What does that take? Of course, for such acceptance to be our normal way of feeling life, of interacting with life; for such acceptance to come, we have to first of all surrender the need to be in control. That may sound like a huge step but if you look into the reality you are already not in control. Nobody is in control. But we like to think we are, we like to think that we could be, should be. Let go of all that nonsense. Surrender to existence and trust in life, just trust, that although you don’t know exactly what is going to happen, it will be good, whatever happens.

So, first we need to relax, surrender and trust existence. From that perspective, from that attitude, not only does acceptance follow but a great rejoicing in what is. It is not even a neutral thing. There is a huge enjoyment to be found in the little quirks of daily life; in the unexpected moments, every day. With this acceptance, life becomes a treat; becomes easy, effortless. One can enjoy the flow, the little surprises. Life is much more interesting this way. So relax into life and allow acceptance to come into your being.