What Does Acceptance Mean? What is your Acceptance Definition?

Introduction.

Welcome back to my small corner of the Internet universe. Thank you for dropping in to visit us here at Hit Refresh Now. Today we are going to look at acceptance. What does acceptance mean? What is your acceptance definition? For example, how can it affect your quality of life and your experience of the world around you?

This article is another in the series about emotional states. To clarify, the series as a whole is heavily influenced by the book “Letting Go – The Pathway to Surrender” by David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D. To understand more about this series of articles you can read more here.

After reading this article, you will understand what part of the brain is associated with acceptance and how acceptance roots you in the present moment. The present moment is the only place where true happiness exists, so let’s jump into the discussion and share some thoughts.

Before we begin, please note that nothing in this article constitutes advice of any kind. The author is simply sharing thoughts and experiences that may be helpful to you in understanding more about acceptance in general terms. The contents below are purely for edutaiment purposes only.

What Does Acceptance Mean?

The definition of acceptance is said to be when you agree to receive something that is offered to you. Acceptance can also signify approval of you as a suitable candidate to be admitted to a group. In more general terms acceptance is when you assent to the terms of an agreement, a binding contract, a bill of exchange, or other situation you find yourself in.

Acceptance is also fully accepting the facts of a situation in your life, without having thoughts of why things should not be the way that they are. For example, acceptance is commonly referrred to as one of the stages of grief.

Sometimes you need to understand that life isn’t fair. Although the human brain is set up in such a way that you instinctively recognize unfairness; and react to it by wanting to punish the offender and set the unfairness right. This type of behavior is all about control. Your need to control your environment and those around you is based in fear, anger and/or pride.

However, acceptance is the ability to give up the need for control. Acceptance involves letting things be as they are without attempting to change them because of your thoughts and emotions. In fact you are able to let go of your thoughts and emotions and adopt a non-judgmental attitude. This in turn, will lead to a healthy sense of self.

Acceptance and the Brain.

When acceptance takes place, the chemical involved in this process is called oxytocin; this is a neurotransmitter that is associated with bonding and community. The part of your brain used in acceptance is the executive function in the prefrontal cortex. This is the logical part of your brain that can override the emotions and use reason and logic. More specifically the ventromedial prefrontal cortex comes into play. To clarify, this is the portion of the brain which settles down the amygdala and stops emotional overreaction. The amygdala is the part of the brain where the reactions of fear and anger originate.

Similarly, studies have shown that practicing acceptance through mindfulness can reduce the effects of depression and chronic pain.

Acceptance is the realization that life is not necessarily fair, but despite that, everything is perfect as it is. The fact that you accept things as they are means that you become rooted in the present moment. The past does not influence you. Consequently, you have no anxiety about what the future may hold for you.

Acceptance is unconditional, whereas a concept like tolerance says “I put up with you in spite of my judgment of you.” Acceptance is free from the lower emotional states of shame, guilt, apathy, anger and fear. On the other hand, these emotions may be present if you are merely tolerant instead of fully accepting.

What Are the Power and Benefits of Being Accepting, Including Self-Acceptance?

The beauty of acceptance is the feeling of inner security and that the universe is abundant. You accept your situation as it is, but you are able to make any changes that you choose to without judging yourself as lacking or less than.

Generally there are two types of people in the world.

Firstly, one type of person has the belief that the universe is infinitely abundant. As a result everone of God’s creatures can have whatever he chooses.

Secondly, the other type of person believes that , in order for him to have what he wants; others must go without or have their wishes taken away from them.

Consequently, I ask you to think about which group of people you fit in with.

Everything is as it Should Be.

Once you can accept that other people are where they need to be, judgment becomes unnecessary. Also, you realise that everyone you interact with is being the best that they can be, given where they are on their life path. As a result, your relationships with others are mutually enriching.

You own actions and behavior is exaclty as it should be, given where you are on your journey. Because of who you are, you cannot behave any other way. Subsequently, everything you have experienced has led you to this place. All is as it should be. Should you decide to, you can choose another way in future based on what your awareness has taught you up to now.

If everything is as it should be, and the universe is abundant; then it is easy to give to others with no expectation of anything in return. The act of giving becomes its own reward. Furthermore. you develop a humanistic psychology toward yourself and others. As a result, your words or conduct towards others improves and this behavior becomes habitual.

Acceptance and Flow

With acceptance comes a state of flow. That feeling of being in tune and effortlessness, allows you to navigate the world in a calm and serene state. Also, challenges become pure flow and you are not affected by outcomes of situations that perhaps you hoped would resolve themselves differently. Consequently, in these situations you learn what is given and move on.

In a state of acceptance you are able to look at past events as learning experiences without allowing emotions to linger and affect your present state. Similarly there is no anxiety about the future, rather there may be an excited anticipation of new experience and personal development. There is a knowing that whatever the future delivers, you will grow and learn.

With acceptance comes a knowing that your life is your own. The outcome of your experience depends on your choices. At the same time, you understand that your choices are your responsibility. When things don’t work out the way you expect, you are free to choose differently in future.

How Do You Deal With People Not Accepting You?

When you are dealing with rejection, it is important to understand that whatever experience you go through, there is a future for you. It may not feel like it at the time, but life does go on and new, better experiences are waiting for you.

It has been said that the most destructive thing in life is a negative thought that is allowed to develop and fester. For example, when you experience rejection, normally the first thought you have is that there must be something wrong with you.

These thoughts begin to ruminate, if they are not dealt with effectively. As a result, they can spiral out of control, as you beg the voice in your head to stop and give you some peace.

Remember you are not your thoughts. Your brain is trying to solve your issues with rejection by giving reasons as to why it may have happened. So you can have a solution to avoiding rejection in the future. Your brain doesn’t care whether you are happy or not. It is only interested in your survival, it will always dig up the most extreme possibilities as to the danger it perceives to your survival. This is because it wants to emphasize the magnitude of the perceived threat, in this case rejection.

Are your Thought True?

When you are having these thoughts, ask your brain “Is this thought I am having about myself or this situation true?”

If you decide it is not true, then dismiss it, you can tell your brain that these thoughts are not helpful and instruct it to give you thoughts that are positive and helpful.

Most of the thoughts that you are given by your brain in stressful situations are not true, and may be gross exaggerations, even if there is some truth to them.

If the thoughts are true you can decide what you want to do about it, how are you going to choose differently.

You should understand that you don’t have any control over how others react to you. That is their choice, which depends on where they are on their own journey. Moreover, their rejection of you may well stam from their own issues with fear, anger and pride. As a result, this can result in them wanting to have some sort of control over you to make you conform to thier idea of what is correct. In this situation you should ask yourself if this is the type of relationship you want to be part of.

Rejection can be extremely painful and the hurt you feel is real. Therefore, allow yourself time to experience the hurt and to process the situation. If you think that you want to try to repair the situation, by all means do so. But do not labour against a hopeless situation and try to be honest with yourself.

Most of all remember that there is a future for you and if you can accept the situation with grace and love instead of unhelpful emotions; you will move into the present moment instead of allowing the past to hold you prisoner.

What Causes a Lack of Accepting Other People?

Sometimes you might struggle with acceptance. For example, you might mistakenly believe that acceptance means that you agree with what happened, or that what happened was ok.

Acceptance does not mean that you roll over meekly and allow people to abuse and misuse you. In contrast, acceptance means that you acknowledge the way things are and decide not to waste time and energy on trying to change things.

 Most importantly, you cannot change the past, the past is gone and running it through your thoughts endlessly trying to come up with an idea of what you could have done differently is not helpful.

There may be times when you are not ready to accept a situation, you may still be processing your emotions and although you try to let go, you may need more time. This is your choice, there is no right and wrong. You might need to go through a grieving process. Allow this to unfold and be kind to yourself. By all means seek professional advice if you feel the need.

You need to process your emotions and allow yourself time to heal. Otherwise they become either suppressed or repressed and may erupt later at the most inappropriate of times.

When there are things you struggle to accept, ask youself what are the emotions standing in the way of acceptance. 

Are you holding back because of:

• Shame.
• Guilt.
• Apathy.
• Fear.
• Anger

Or is there some element of wanting to control the outcome, or change the circumstances of the situation you are struggling with. 

To Accept is the Key To Happiness?

If you look at all of the emotions and thoughts that prevent acceptance, such as regrets about the past, or anxiety about the future; they all make you unhappy and elicit negative emotions.

Shame, guilt, grief, anger and desire are all emotions that are rooted in the past, in a wish for things that have already happened to be different. How foolish is that, what a waste of time and energy to try to change event that cannot be changed.

Meanwhile, anxiety fear and desire are rooted in the future, a place that doesn’t even exist. Again this is pure foolishness.

Rather put that energy into the present by accepting that the past is what it is and the future is determined by today’s choices. It all boils down to truth, the way things are is true, accept that.

If you want to make your future different, choose differently based on lessons acknowledged and learned from the past, without any emotional attachments.

Therefore, accept people and situations as they are and break all of your emotional ties with the past and the future. In this way you allow people and situations to turn up differently in your life.

Ego and Acceptance.

If you accept that you are who you are and that is how you express yourself; then perhaps you can forgive your imagined mistakes from the past. Perhaps you can also learn to love yourself and others as they are, without the judgment offered to you by your ego.

You can rise above your ego and remember who you are, as a part of the universal mind that is perfect and loving and knowing. If you remember who you are, you experience happiness as part of the oneness of all things. You know that everything is as it should be.

Just remember that the universe has been in existence for 14 billion years and it does what it does and moves along in time regardless of any human emotion. So learn to love and become part of the flow of creation. Take responsibility for your happiness and the things you want to create in your life, without being held prisoner by the expected outcome. Let go of the outcome and allow the universe to reward you with more than you thought you deserve.

Some Quotes.

Here are some quotes by the greats on acceptance. I hope you find something in those that we have included here that resonate wiith you. You may want to use one or two as affirmations to encourage you on your journey through and to accepting your reality.

“Happiness can exist only in acceptance.”

– George Orwell.

“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.”

– Michael J. Fox.

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.”

– Nathaniel Branden.

“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.”

– Brian Tracy.

“I’m firmly convinced that true beauty only springs from the acceptance of oneself, from an awareness of who we really are.”

– Peter Lindbergh.

“Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they’re alive and human.”

– Albert Ellis.

“Bad humor is an evasion of reality; good humor is an acceptance of it.”

– Malcolm Muggeridge.

“Acceptance does not mean that you placidly acquiesce to the myriad injustices that are all around you.”

– Srikumar Rao.

“Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.”

– Kamal Haasan.

“I’m hopeful for a world with more love, acceptance, and compassion for others.”

– Lily Aldridge.

“Acceptance is being able to feel beautiful in whatever you feel comfortable in.”

– Barbie Ferreira.

To Accept is the Beginning of Healing and Forgiveness.

Acceptance is the beginning of your journey of transcendence from unhelpful emotional states to the elevated states of love, peace and joy. Subsequently, perhaps  you may even attain the enlightenment spoken of in buddhism. Above all, the only requirement to bridge the gap from unhelpful thoughts to helpful ones is to find the courage to try. 

Once you are able to allow acceptance of a person or situation; you present yourself with the opportunity to forgive. This forgiveness may be for others, or more importantly yourself. In forgiving you break the energetic bonds with the past. You allow people and situations to present themselves differently in your life. As a result, any misgivings that you may have about the future will fade too. After all, your fears about the future are caused by your emotions towards the past.

Once you forgive, you can start to heal and turn away from the negative feelings. You can turn your future into the exciting adventure it is meant to be. What better meaning of acceptance could there be.

Your  acceptance is the result of your courage to forgive and heal, both yourself and others. Just remember there is no benefit in a qualified acceptance as the emotional ties to the past  will linger. Only unconditional acceptance and forgiveness will lead to complete healing, freedom from your past and personal growth. 

Frequently Asked Questions: What Does Acceptance Mean? What is your Acceptance Definition?

Here are some frequently asked questions about acceptnce. As you read through them, just allow yourself to realize that you are not alone if you struggle with this concept. Be gentle and know that your determination and persistance are sure to prevail.

Q. What is the root of acceptance?

A. The root of acceptance lies in acknowledging and embracing reality as it is, without resistance or judgment. In addition, it involves recognizing and coming to terms with the present circumstances, thoughts, and emotions.

Q. What is the deep meaning of acceptance?

A. The deep meaning of acceptance goes beyond a mere acknowledgment of situations. For example, it involves a profound understanding that life is not always under your control, and you can find peace by letting go of the desire to change everything and simply accepting what is.

Q. Why do I struggle with acceptance?

A. Struggles with acceptance can be influenced by various factors, such as:

• Past traumas,
• Societal expectations.
• Fear of vulnerability.
•  Lack of self-acceptance.

Additionally, the inability to accept certain experiences or emotions may stem from cultural or familial conditioning.

Q. Is acceptance the key to healing?

A. Acceptance can be a significant key to healing. For example, acknowledging and embracing your emotions and experiences allows you to process them in a healthy way. This can lead to emotional and psychological growth.

Q. Is acceptance a form of love?

A. Acceptance can indeed be seen as a form of love. When we accept ourselves and others without judgment or the need for change, it demonstrates a genuine, compassionate form of love and understanding.

Q. Is acceptance a coping skill?

A. Acceptance is considered a valuable coping skill. In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness practices, you learn to accept your thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally. In short, this helps you cope with challenging situations more effectively.

Q. How do you fully accept someone?

A. Fully accepting someone involves recognizing and respecting their uniqueness, including their:

• Strengths.
• Weaknesses.
• Differences.

It means acknowledging them without trying to change them and offering unconditional support.

Q. What rejection does to a woman?

A. Rejection can affect women in various ways. It may lead to feelings of:

• Sadness.
• Low self-esteem.
• Anxiety.

However, with acceptance, women can work through these negative emotions and develop a healthy sense of self.

Q. How do you accept what you cannot change?

A. Accepting what you cannot change requires:

• Acknowledging the reality of the situation.
• Understanding that some things are beyond your control.
• Letting go of the desire to alter them.

It also involves focusing on the aspects you can control and finding peace with the rest.

Q. What does true acceptance look like?

A. True acceptance involves embracing both the positive and negative aspects of life and oneself. It means allowing room for all thoughts and emotions, without trying to suppress or deny them.

Q. What are the qualities of acceptance?

A. Acceptance is characterized by being:

• Non-judgmental.
• Open-minded.
• Understanding.
• Patient.
• Compassionate.

It also involves embracing imperfections and uncertainties, both in oneself and others.

Q. What causes lack of acceptance?

A. A lack of acceptance can be caused by various factors, such as:

• Fear of vulnerability.
• Desire for control.
• Past traumas.
• Societal pressures.
• A negative self-image.

Q. How do psychologists define acceptance?

A. Psychologists define acceptance as the willingness to experience thoughts and emotions, without attempting to change, or avoid, certain aspects of oneself or life.

Q. How does acceptance benefit personal growth and relationships with others?

A. Acceptance fosters personal growth by promoting a healthier relationship with oneself and facilitating the processing of negative emotions. It also enhances relationships with others by promoting non-judgmental attitudes, empathy, and understanding.

Q. How does acceptance involve making peace with the past?

A. Acceptance involves acknowledging past experiences and traumas, allowing oneself to feel the associated emotions, and finding a way to move forward without being stuck in bitterness or regret.

Q. How does acceptance represent the opinion of oneself?

A. Acceptance of oneself means recognizing and embracing one’s strengths, weaknesses, and limitations without harsh self-criticism or denial.

Q. How is acceptance expressed in the examples provided by Merriam-Webster and Collins English Dictionary?

A. The examples provided by Merriam-Webster and Collins English Dictionary illustrate the usage of the word “acceptance” in various contexts without attempting to change its meaning.

Q. Why is a non-judgmental attitude important in acceptance?

A. A non-judgmental attitude is essential in acceptance because it allows individuals to approach their thoughts and emotions without criticizing themselves. This leads to a healthier and more constructive relationship with oneself.

Q. How does Buddhism view acceptance?

A. Buddhism  emphasizes the importance of acceptance in achieving inner peace and personal growth. Buddhism encourages non-attachment to outcomes and the acceptance of the present moment as part of life.

Final Thoughts. Mindfulness and Acceptance.

I hope you have found this discussion about acceptance to be helpful and informative. It may help you to realise that your acceptance of the universe as it is, is your acknowledgment to your creator that he did a good job. As co-creators you are adding the details of your day to day life and experience, by your choice whether you live in love or fear. Choose wisely, if you don’t like the way your life is; find the courage to try something different, you may just surprise yourself.

I accept all of you as you are too. Any positive feedback or sharing of experiences that might encourage others on their journey are most welcome. You can comment or contact the writer through the contact form on this website.

With love as always,

Richard H Morris.