08/11/2023
Acceptance involves observing our thoughts, feelings, and behavior nonjudgmentally. It allows us to struggle with distressing thoughts, emotional pain, stress, and other unwanted experiences without labeling them as “bad” or “wrong,” which can create even more distress.
With acceptance, you have permission to feel all your feelings and react accordingly. An acceptance approach rejects judgment so you can acknowledge and engage with your feelings.
Cognitive defusion and acceptance are hard if you aren’t grounded in the present moment. If you’re reliving past experiences or worrying about the future, you may react to present stress in self-protective ways that don’t suit your values. Connecting to the present moment can often overpower unhelpful or unwanted thoughts or feelings, empowering you to choose how to act.
The present is where we experience joy, delight, surprise, beauty, and inspiration. We’ve all had experiences, however fleeting, that felt powerful enough to bring us fully into the present: first kisses, game-winning shots, standing ovations, acceptance letters, job offers, and more.
But being present shouldn’t be reserved for surprises, milestones, or special occasions. Like any skill, connection to the present moment is something you can practice. Mindfulness offers tools to help you learn and practice living in the present moment.
