Radical Acceptance

What is radical acceptance?

Sometimes, we drive ourselves crazy trying to change things that are out of our control. Radical acceptance is about accepting the things you can't change, and accepting your mind, heart, and body.

What has to be accepted?

1. Reality as it is

-Facts are facts, even if you don't like them

2. There are limitations on the future for everyone

-Only realistic ones need to be accepted

3. Everything has a cause

-Even things that cause you pain

4. Life can be worth living, even with painful events

Why accept reality?

1. Rejecting reality doesn't change it

2. Changing reality requires you to accept it

3. Pain can't be avoided, it's natures way of saying something is wrong

- Rejecting reality turns PAIN to SUFFERING

4. Refusing to accept reality can keep you stuck in...

-Unhappiness

-Bitterness

-Anger

-Sadness

-Shame

and many other painful emotions

5. Acceptance may lead to sadness,

HOWEVER

deep calmness usually follows

Exercises to practice radical acceptance

-Observe that you're questioning/fighting reality

-Remind yourself that reality is what it is

-Consider the causes of reality, and non-judgmentally accept that causes exist

-Practice accepting the whole being (mind, body, and spirit)

-Practice opposite action

-Cope ahead with events that seem unacceptable

-Attend to body sensations as you think about what needs to be accepted

-Allow yourself to experience disappointment/sadness/grief

-Acknowledge that life can be worth living, even with pain

-Do pros and cons of accepting vs. denial and rejection