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Dear Suzanne,
Welcome to Day 3 of Peace on the Path.
On Monday, I wrote about caring for our physical selves, the home of our minds and spirits. Yesterday, I discussed the need for equilibrium—life balance in our external lived experience as well as our need for a sense of internal balance.
Today's focus is on our mental selves: a combination of mind and regulation of emotion. This set of actions is most effective when we have taken care of 'P' and 'E' (the body and our balance).
Acceptance of "what is" increases the effective use of our minds. By "putting down" our metaphorical fists in the fight against reality, the energy required for the fight now becomes available for what we want to create. It's a reallocation of resources that allows us to invest our energy, time, and attention into something less futile.
Here is a simple method I have found to be most effective for both myself and my clients to achieve the state of acceptance. PLEASE NOTE: When I use the term "accept," I am not directing you to tolerate mistreatment, abuse, or denial of conditions or situations that are dangerous, awful, painful, and so forth. Acceptance does not imply approval of wrongful or harmful behavior.
For our purposes here, acceptance is about perspective, a way of seeing.
To achieve a state of acceptance:
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Take 3 centering breaths. Inhale slowly through the nose, exhale slowly through the mouth. 2.
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Imagine that you are a scientist approaching a study. Scientists are trained to work from an emotionally neutral perspective. They may have feelings, desires, thoughts about what they see or wish to achieve or prove, however, their view is emotionally disengaged to allow for clearer and more accurate observation. Hints while doing this exercise: Focus on facts. For now, discard judgements or opinions.
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