The Rule of Acceptance
If there's one life rule that is worth understanding and applying to your daily life it is the “Rule of Acceptance”. Acceptance of what is, Acceptance of what is outside our control, and Acceptance of people and differing views, are all critical elements in how happy our day to day life is.
The critical issue with the Rule of Acceptance is in its interpretation. Unfortunately most people see Acceptance as accepting less in life, accepting that I can’t control what happens to me, accepting that I will never be rich, and therefore accepting a lower standard for myself than I would otherwise expect.
This is completely wrong. Acceptance has nothing to do with lowering your expectations. What is the problem we all face with goal setting, New Year’s resolutions, and setting certain expectations for our lives? The real problem is that if we don’t hit that goal right on target we get disappointed and we lose confidence and motivation. Then we stop setting goals so that we insulate ourselves from disappointment and think we are “accepting” our lot in life.
NO...NO...NO….
You must set goals, you must set standards for your life, you must live your life to the fullest. What the Rule of Acceptance means is that we carefully set goals, we set a plan of action, and we do what we can with what we have to try and achieve that goal. Beyond that there are so many external factors that we have no control over, the economy, other people’s decisions, etc. that ultimately we have INFLUENCE over the outcomes of our goals and targets but not complete control. If we had complete control everyone would have millions of dollars and be living a life of luxury. What the “Rule of Acceptance” refers to is the outcomes of our decisions and actions. If you have tried your best, done everything you believe you could do, made adjustments to your plan when it needed, then you have done everything within your power and abilities……..then whatever happens you can accept it with the knowledge you left no stone unturned. Acceptance becomes difficult when you know in your heart you could have done more……..but never allow yourself to be held to ransom by the things you cannot control.