May 09 Acceptance
Acceptance
"Judge not and ye shall not be judged"
We hesitated before using a biblical quote to open this news letter but somehow it fits so well and sums up such an important part of our work that we are including it any way.
Obviously from the New Testament, it's a long way from "an eye for an eye" or "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord."
To accept another just as they are is one of the greatest gifts we can give anyone. We all have our individual idiosyncrasies, our ridiculous rituals, our irrational fears and our insecurities. A long winded way of saying we're not perfect.
Or are we?
What is perfection? After all its just an opinion.
For with all our perceived faults we also show compassion, great kindness, generosity, creativity and love. It is this mixture that makes us the unique human beings that we are.
Adlai E. Stevenson Jr. Said "My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."
Don't be afraid to be different, it can be as much a strength as a weakness.
By accepting their differences, we make it safe for them to exist. It's a great gift, and carries no sub agenda like, your could be better, happier, wealthier if you just followed my advice and become just like me.
We are talking about more than tolerance. Tolerance implies putting up with another's faults, accepting means realizing that without their, perceived faults they would not be the wonderful individuals they are.
Remember it is as much the "faults" and foibles that create a great character as the strength and greatness.
Tolerance is an attitude to others, but also to ourselves. Self acceptance is a profound step on the road to happiness.
"The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable". Paul Tillich.
It doesn't mean you should not or must not change, you can decide to, but you don't have to. From this place there is nothing to resist and resistance is the greatest barrier to change. It is relatively easy to decide to change if we are coming from choice and not necessity or compulsion. It is an integral part of the human condition that we find it easier to act when we are free to refuse, than when there are compelling reasons.
So, as we refrain from judging both ourselves and others we find we are living in a happier environment and, are happier, healthier and more relaxed ourselves.