Radical Acceptace: Embracing What Is
Week 3, 2024
Dear Friends,
I’m so glad you’re here.
Before we dive into this week’s post, I want to share something personal with you.
Writing the last two installments of Guided Whispers has been such a joy that I’ve decided to write these weekly long-form posts more like letters than newsletters—less formal, more like we’re sitting down together for a chat. I hope it feels like we’re sharing a moment to pause and connect amidst life’s busyness.
I’m also considering adding some experiential exercises to these letters. Maybe even turning them into a podcast that you can listen to whenever it suits you, in your own time. What do you think? Let me know by answering the poll below 👇
Now, let’s talk about this week’s topic: radical acceptance.
Have you ever felt at odds with life? Like no matter what you do, things just refuse to fall into place?
If that resonates, I want you to know: you’re not alone.
It’s exhausting, isn’t it? That constant effort to fix or control things that seem determined to stay messy.
This week I’ve been thinking about how I used to believe that if I just tried harder, I could make things work. But life doesn’t always play by our rules. Some things are simply beyond our control, and that’s where radical acceptance comes in.
⏸️ Take a Breath with Me:
Inhale slowly... hold it for a moment... and exhale gently.
Now, think about something that’s been weighing on you. What would it feel like to simply let it be, just for a moment?
Radical acceptance isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s not about agreeing with or liking the way things are.
As Tara Brach (one of my favourite meditation teachers) beautifully puts it:
“Radical acceptance is not a resignation; it’s a release.”
It’s about acknowledging reality as it is, without resistance. And in that act of recognition, there’s freedom.
Imagine This:
Picture yourself standing by a river. The water flows steadily. You’re not trying to stop it or redirect it. You’re just letting it flow.
That’s what radical acceptance feels like: releasing the fight and allowing life to move forward.
When we resist what’s happening, we can get stuck in:
Frustration
Anger
Helplessness
We think, “This isn’t fair,” or, “Why can’t things be different?”
Radical acceptance invites us to shift our mindset to:
“This is where I am right now, and it’s okay to feel this way.”
It’s not about giving up. It’s about letting go of the struggle and focusing on what’s within our control.
When you stop resisting, you create space to:
Breathe.
Reflect on what you need.
Take intentional steps forward.
Healing begins when we allow ourselves to sit with what is, even when it’s hard.
A Personal Pause:
I’ve been there. There were times when I felt completely stuck — trying so hard to fix everything, only to feel more drained.
It wasn’t until I allowed myself to pause, to sit with the discomfort, and to stop trying to control everything that I found relief.
It wasn’t an instant change, but it was freeing. It reminded me that sometimes the best way forward is to let go.
A Reflection for You:
Take a moment to consider:
What would it feel like to stop trying to fix everything right now?
Where could you give yourself permission to just be?
Each time you pause to accept what is, you’re creating space for healing and peace.
I hope this letter gave you a moment to breathe and reflect. If you’d like to explore this idea further, don’t forget to answer the poll above.
Take care of yourself.
With gratitude,
Dana xo
Yes, this is lovely. Such a weight lifts when you just decide to let things be as they are. 🙏❤️
Thus definitely resonates. Xx