Mindful acceptance is the practice of meeting yourself where you are without pressure, judgment, or force. A reflection on rest, resilience, and self compassion.
Mindful Acceptance as Sacred Tension
Nearly 90% of my conversations, personally and professionally, revolve around a theme of acceptance. I read books, scour articles, and stand on my soap box reminding anyone who will listen that stopping is not failing, depletion is not laziness, control is an illusion, and mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Not because I’m a born cheerleader, but because years of energy practice and research have shown me that these are undeniable facts.
This sacred tension is the cocoon that embraces us when we need rest. It’s where we find the strength to set boundaries with an open heart and the courage to ask for help.
When Practice Becomes Personal
However, when my body gets weak and my mind becomes clouded, my own faith falters. I find myself struggling to practice the self-compassion, mindful acceptance, and care that I know will make me physically and emotionally stronger and more resilient. That is because, universally, the lived experience of what we confidently preach feels very different when we are the ones rescheduling commitments, asking for help, or feeling overwhelmed and fatigued.
This gap between our belief and behavior, this sacred tension, is the cocoon that embraces us when we need rest. It’s where we find the strength to set boundaries with an open heart and the courage to ask for help. Honoring this space, without fighting, fixing, or trying to control, is how we grow wings to fly. So, dear friends, as the turn of the year draws close, I invite you to not work or wrestle into a new shape. Instead, honor yourself, meet yourself where you are with curiosity, compassion, patience, and acceptance. Embrace the quiet of your center and trust that becoming does not require pressure, but unfolds with presence.
References
- Lathren CR, Rao SS, Park J, Bluth K. Self-Compassion and Current Close Interpersonal Relationships: A Scoping Literature Review. Mindfulness (N Y). 2021 May;12(5):1078-1093. doi: 10.1007/s12671-020-01566-5. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 35309268; PMCID: PMC8932676.
- Schutte, N., Malouff, J. The Link between Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: A Meta-Analysis. Int J Appl Posit Psychol 10, 34 (2025).
- Xu Z, Huang F, Kösters M, et al. Effectiveness of interventions to promote help-seeking for mental health problems: systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine. 2018;48(16):2658-2667. doi:10.1017/S0033291718001265
Need a Little Clarity?
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