Radical Acceptance

What is radical acceptance?

Throughout our lives, we experience challenges and pain, such as breakups, loss, & health changes. Our natural response to these situations is often to deny or resist them, which can show up as anger, denial or avoidance. Unfortunately, this natural response only intensifies our suffering.

Radical acceptance focuses on acknowledging and recognising the present moment in its entirety, including the painful and difficult parts.

Radical acceptance involves recognising that there are parts of our lives beyond our control, and that when we struggle against them, we experience further suffering.

Radical acceptance is not:

• The approval of what is happening or has happened

• Giving up and surrendering to what is happening or has happened

• Suppressing or ignoring your emotions

How to practice radical acceptance?

• Acknowledge that something happened.

• Recognise that reality is as it is.

• Acknowledge that the event or situation causes pain.

• Gently remind yourself that difficult experiences are a part of life.

• Notice the urge to resist or deny reality and gently turn your mind.

• Use your body to support acceptance, by relaxing your body, letting go of any tension.

• Allow feelings to rise and fall. Allow yourself to experience all the emotions that come up.

• Stay committed to acceptance. When your mind fights back, gently return to the path. Radical acceptance is something we have to do over and over.

• Be kind to yourself in the process.

Remember, just like any skill, engaging in radical acceptance will take time and having self-compassion is an important component of practising it.