Acceptance And Faith

“The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen.” Ralph Marston

Happy Monday!

It’s November! Let the festivities begin! I really enjoy this time of year. The leaves are turning, the weather is cooling down, the days are shorter, and the nights are longer. There’s a fire in the fireplace, and the smell of cinnamon wafts from the kitchen. Okay, wait. It’s SoCal, and I’m not lost in a Hallmark movie! Lol!! Alas, one can dream.

But seriously, folks, with the holidays just weeks away, a lot’s going on, and our ordinary, not Hallmark movie life continues with work and responsibilities. We can choose to ignore and reject the season, or we can embrace and accept its realities, making the best of it. Ultimately, it’s up to us.

Sometimes, it’s tough to live in a place where acceptance is the norm. Our nature, as humans, is to push against the river and try to control everything that affects us. We want what we want, and we are seldom thrilled when a compromise seems imminent. We have a love/hate relationship with change and spend lots of time trying to create workarounds that more closely fulfill our desires. The problem is, we can’t always get what we want (enter The Rolling Stones) and exercise wisdom when we accept things the way they are to get what we need (again, cue The Stones). 

Here are some encouraging words from Ralph Marston, creator of The Daily Motivator:

Sounds familiar, yes? It’s reminiscent of the things discussed last week about anxiety. If we remain focused and in the present, we’ll have a more realistic sense of what’s going on around us. We won’t have to panic or stress; we can choose a direction that remains in our best interests and be content with the outcome.

The second part of this line of thinking is to have faith. Marston reflects on faith in ourselves, and I think that’s an essential component of managing acceptance. I also believe something I will paraphrase from a comment by actress Tracee Ellis Ross. She noted that as she focuses on acceptance, both of herself and others, she becomes better able to choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear. That sounds like a winning combination to me.

When we show compassion for ourselves, we’re more likely to extend that compassion to others, which reduces the opportunities for judgment. As we replace fear with curiosity, we’re able to look more closely at ourselves and make necessary adjustments. With that done, we can accept grace and mercy for our shortcomings and feel free to extend the same to others. Curiosity is a powerful antidote to fear.

And there’s an added benefit of acceptance that involves our faith.

Scripture teaches us that:

“Now faith means putting our full confidence in the things we hope for, it means being certain of things we cannot see. It was this kind of faith that won their reputation for the saints of old. And it is after all only by faith that our minds accept as fact that the whole scheme of time and space was created by God’s command—that the world which we can see has come into being through principles which are invisible.” Hebrews 11:1 (PHILLIPS)

There’s much we can’t see without exploring acceptance and curiosity more deeply. Faith in ourselves and others reflects our trust in our God and the acceptance of the divine nature in the spirits of others. After all, it’s been said that we’re fundamentally spiritual beings navigating an earthly experience. Isn’t that a remarkable shift to underscore our desire to humbly accept ourselves and graciously love each other well? 

Let’s take some time this week to reflect on acceptance and faith, and all they involve, as ways to bring peace and understanding during this season. It may mean supporting someone who struggles during the holidays. It may also mean giving ourselves permission to accept change. Please keep in mind that, as I mentioned last week, this time of year can be particularly challenging for some. Be encouraged to seek professional help for yourself or someone you know if needed. We’re here to support you!

Be Well & Be Blessed!

Lucinda