Embracing Acceptance: Exploring Its Psychological Implications and Societal Impact.

BY: Neighbors’ Consejo|

In the realm of human experience, acceptance stands as a multifaceted phenomenon, profoundly shaping individual wellbeing, social dynamics, and collective progress. Rooted in psychological frameworks and intertwined with cultural norms, acceptance encompasses a complex interplay of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes.

What is psychological acceptance? According to Proactive, “psychological acceptance refers to the process of embracing thoughts, emotions, and other internal experiences without judgement and without trying to change them. To understand psychological acceptance well, it can help to understand experiential avoidance.”

Acceptance holds profound importance across different aspects of human life for several reasons: psychological wellbeing; interpersonal relationships; stress reduction; personal growth; enhances coping skills, etc. That is why, according to William Berry, “new theories of therapy have been developed with acceptance as the main focus. An example if this is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Training, (instead of therapy, to avoid the stigma) ACT helps train mindfulness: an awareness of the present moment without judgment.”

“How we feel about ourselves can have a big influence on how happy and resilient we are. Accepting that, like all human beings, we have strengths and imperfections, we’ll make mistakes and sometimes fail is an important component of psychological wellbeing. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel bad when we mess up, but we don’t dwell on it as much or beat ourselves up about it.”

How do we work on acceptance? Acceptance is important because it empowers individuals to embrace life’s realities with courage, compassion, and authenticity, thereby fostering personal growth, enriching relationships, and promoting collective wellbeing. That is why, according to the Blog Better Together Family Therapy, you can:

1. Observe that you are fighting against reality.
2. Remind yourself that the unpleasant reality cannot be changed.
3. Acknowledge that something led to this moment.
4. Practice acceptance with not only your mind, but your body and spirit. Be mindful of your breath and posture.
5. List what your behavior would look like if you did accept the facts then act accordingly.
6. Plan ahead with events that seem unacceptable and think about how you should appropriately cope.
7. Remain mindful of physical sensations throughout your body such as tension or stress.
8. Embrace feelings such as disappointment, sadness, or grief.
9. Acknowledge that life is worth living even when there might be temporary pain.
10. If you find yourself resisting, complete a pros and cons exercise to better understand the full impact of your choice.

Additionally, Sarah Sperber and Tchiki David, Ph, D., consider “one of the key ideas underlying acceptance is that difficult emotions are an inescapable part of life: at different times we will find ourselves sad, angry, disappointed, bored, frustrated, grieving, heartbroken, etc. No one, even the most even-keeled individual, is free of these emotions. When these emotions inevitably do arise, there are two ways that we can react: resistance or acceptance.”

In conclusion, from its role in promoting psychological resilience and copying skills to its capacity to foster empathy and inclusivity, acceptance emerges as a cornerstone of human experience. By embracing acceptance, individuals can navigate life’s complexities with greater equanimity, courage and compassion, thereby fostering personal growth and enhancing their capacity to thrive amidst adversity. 

References

“Acceptance Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acceptance. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

“Acceptance.” Action For Happiness, actionforhappiness.org/10-keys/acceptance#:~:text=Acceptance%20involves%20acknowledging%20the%20%E2%80%9Cunvarnished,sense%20of%20value%20or%20worth. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

“Acceptance: It Isn’t What You Think.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-second-noble-truth/201506/acceptance-it-isnt-what-you-think. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

“How to Practice Acceptance.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/202108/how-practice-acceptance. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024.

“Psychological Acceptance – What Is It and How It Can Help.” Proactive Health & Movement, 1 Jan. 1967, www.proactivehm.com.au/9417-2/#:~:text=Psychological%20acceptance%20refers%20to%20the,without%20trying%20to%20change%20them.

User, Guest. “10 Steps for Practicing Radical Acceptance.” Better Together Family Therapy, Better Together Family Therapy, 19 Oct. 2023, betterfamilytherapy.com/blog/10-steps-for-practicing-radical-acceptance#:~:text=Practice%20acceptance%20with%20not%20only,how%20you%20should%20appropriately%20cope.