Acceptance

I was recently challenged to answer a question: “How would you describe total health and wellness?” A thousand textbook answers raced to be first in my rational. Yet within the unrecognizable barrage came a calm realization that none of them was the appropriate answer. It was the word acceptance that felt correct.

In the fields of energy medicine there are certain emotions that are restrictive to the flow of vitality and others that expand and support the flow. Grief, remorse, despair, shame and depression are considered ‘heavy’ emotions. These states involuntarily cause breathing to become shallow which constricts energy flow, causing the chest, shoulders, heart and lungs to feel as though they are under pressure or weight.

As an interesting exercise, close your eyes, relax and just think about the words: Grief, remorse, despair, shame, depression. After a minute or two, you will likely feel your posture has subtly changed and that there is a heaviness on your chest above your heart. If you were to continue in this condition, the restricted flow of energy would begin to create sensations in the areas farthest from the heart; your hands, fingers, feet and toes. Just like shutting down the flow of water to an irrigated field, the crop would start to wither and possibly die.

Now, return to your relaxed, eyes closed position and start thinking the words: love, peace, joy, happiness, gratitude, acceptance. Without intent, your chest begins to expand, breathing becomes fuller while the neck and shoulders relax creating a sense of well-being. The previous dense energy is dissipating, being replaced with one that is lighter and more expansive. The longer these thoughts are held the farther reaching this energy expands.

The word acceptance, unlike its near relatives, submission and surrender, does not require giving in or yielding one’s will. It’s more like transcending will by recognizing that even if one doesn’t understand the why of a thing, what is occurring has a greater benefit than possibly meets the eye. There is no bad, no mistakes, only something to be learned. Acceptance is how we receive gifts.