By: Rachel Priestman
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2475/the-daily-guardian/15
Dated: May 24th, 2025
Acceptance is key to any kind of change. Those on a spiritual journey understand the need for change and the powers that are necessary for us to acquire in order to make the change. There are eight main spiritual powers that, once mastered, can make life free from distress or sorrow. Acceptance is not one of those eight powers, but is the key to them all: the powers to withdraw, let go, accommodate, discriminate, judge, face, cooperate, and tolerate. The power of acceptance opens the way to clarity, calmness? and wisdom. When we are unable to accept situations, the behaviour of others and, most importantly, our own selves, the stress and anger that arise, pull us into the blame game. These feelings of negativity and resistance harm us mentally and also physically – mental distress affects the body.
When we stop that internal whirlwind of waste thoughts about situations and people, when we stop trying to make things the way we think they should be, when we simply accept what is happening and how it is happening, then wonders can happen. Every one of us has an idea of what is ‘normal’ inside of us. Normal for us. None of us have the same ‘normal’. Even if we live in the same family, the same house, for years, each one of us will have our own mindset about how things should be. Because of our different life experiences, we are all programmed slightly differently and so it is actually quite miraculous that we all get on with each other as well as we do. It is wisdom when we understand this - that everyone is living a story very different to my own, and we have no way of knowing their story, unless they honour us by relating it.
The first step towards acceptance is to accept the self. To do that, we must understand our original nature - our original ‘normal’, because that ‘normal’ is true for all of us. We are eternal, spiritual beings, having a physical experience, and the spiritual being is full of love, peace, joy, wisdom, and compassion. However, we have had very different experiences in this physical world, and those who believe in reincarnation understand how complex the story of each one must be, having lived many different lives. But those are physical stories. I, the soul, the eternal being of light, the powerful, benevolent energy, am not physical. What is difficult for us is to accept the mistaken actions we have taken in our long story of physical experiences. We have made mistakes, often to protect ourselves, in an attempt to safeguard our peace and happiness. We have developed an ego that refuses to allow us to bow down and accept the resulting situations and relationships. However, it is not in demanding or resisting but in accepting that we regain the peace that gives us clarity and wisdom to know what to do next, to make things smooth and harmonious, and full of joy.
So, first I have to accept myself - to truly see and know the beauty of the self. It is through a loving connection to God, the Divine, that this can happen, because God sees all of me, understands every part of my story and loves me unconditionally. God accepts me. God knows about the goodness within, and helps me to see that. Then I can bring that into my thinking, speaking, and doing. But this is not a one-switch wonder. It requires constant practice, an ongoing rehearsal and gentle corrections. By learning how to accept myself I can accept others. This is such a great gift that I have to offer. When I am able to stay calm in difficult situations through my own acceptance, it changes the atmosphere and empowers others. This is an act of giving, and giving is part of our original nature.
Everything depends on my thinking. So, taking time out every so often during the day to check with what awareness I am thinking and behaving, is essential self-care. I give myself the chance to re-route my thoughts towards what is positive and uplifting. I connect with my inner power and the Source of all power, and am then able to carry on with more understanding and integrity. When I see the importance of meditation, I will make sure I give time to that. Meditation is not running away; it is a very practical mental manoeuvre, preparing myself to do or be my best just like any musician or an athlete will do. Whatever we practise we become good at. When we practise being angry and critical, we become experts in anger! When we practise meditation and experience our own inner peace and inner powers, we are on the journey to becoming masters of the self.
Rachel Priestman is based at Global Cooperation House,
in the Brahma Kumaris International Co-ordinating Office, London.
