Occupy Sanity Tool: Acceptance.
Lately, I’ve felt out of sync with life as if I couldn’t find a way to fit into my own skin. I felt grumpy and dissatisfied about everything…even in those moments that generally bring me satisfaction and joy.
That’s a sure sign that I need to look behind all the internal irritation and ‘scratchiness’ I was feeling and ask ‘What’s up with you?’
To find some answers I took a quiet moment to ask some questions:
What is so uncomfortable about being present?
What am I resisting?
How am I getting in my own way?
How am I resisting being at peace?
As I listened for some answers I began to see that I was overlaying my ‘Template of Expectations’ which represent how I expect life to be rather than how it is.
As I continued being curious about this, I noticed if I shifted the template a bit to the left or right or even picked it up completely I could relax with what was happening
What a relief! I felt the irritation and dissatisfaction slip away and relaxed into what was there in and around myself. As a result of being fully present, I found what I was resisting did not ‘feel’ so overwhelming and I had more energy available to myself…which enabled me to Rise Up!
What about you?
What templates do you unconsciously have in place that create resistance and keep you at a lower vibration?
Once you identify them…move them around a bit and try a little acceptance!
We’d love to hear your experience with this Occupy Sanity Tool. Let us know how it goes in the comments section below.
Hello Concetta
I find your words resonate with me in many ways. Acceptance is a word I have been using quite a lot lately that generally means ” a transfer or transaction ” in some form or another. When one gives an acceptance speech they are receiving something from another. Whats wrong with allowing yourself to accept the person you see in the mirror everyday. For all this persons accomplishments vs failures and sometimes fatal optimism vs insecurities, you have to tell yourself you made it this far in life with the good the bad and sometimes ugly. Own it and accept it.
There always seems to be a disconnect between the people we think we are and the person we truly are. Society wants to construct us in certain ways that may not be in keeping with our true selves. We live in a 24/7 world that’s constantly telling us we are not fast enough and need to do more. Whats wrong with me if I don’t want the latest technology, car or furniture? This can cause a lot of the turmoil and discomfort in our lives but we must always challenge the conventional wisdom served us. So yes I have many moments of those unsettled feelings you mention in your article. I question my own sanity!! Thats usually when my insecurities and anger show their face. Defaulting to the template, as you call it wells up in the emotions. Just like you I am trying to understand where these feelings come from and why. Growth and understanding about ourselves can be uncomfortable and disorienting at times requiring us to turn things upside down….. but a little peace, understanding and quiet harmony might be the end result. I always tell myself to get back on that horse and ride like the wind, That horse might have a little wear and tear but it got you this far so don’t sell it off!!
Accept and have a little empathy for yourself as well as the rest of humanity…. after all we are just human!!!
Words from my wonderful uncle Dwight;
” Your greatness is measured by your kindness
Your education and intelligence by your modesty
Your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices
Your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others”
I think these words define acceptance,
Thanks Michael for your reflections. Sounds like you and I are pondering some of the same aspects of Acceptance. In fact, you wrote about what has been part of my personal evolution from being who society, family, even myself expects me to be (I can call that ‘templating’ myself!) and living comfortably from and with who I am from the inside out. There seems to be an endless amount of processing which can be exhausting…yet, I do find a bit of peace in finally arriving at that kind of self-acceptance.
And thank you for sharing Uncle Dwight’s words. That reminds me of a Tibetan Buddhism practice called ‘Maitri’, which means loving kindness toward self & others. As you noted, that kind of practice starts with each of us. ‘,,,after all we’re only human!’ Aha! Another level of acceptance!
Namaste, Concetta