It seems like every day I am faced with unexpected situations and occurrences that need accepting. Most are relatively minor disturbances, really, such as home delivery or installation times being changed at the last minute, a computer glitch...
When we expect too much of others, most often we are trying to change or control them in some manner. And in doing so, by definition, we aren’t accepting them as they are. Simply put,“When you expect, you can’t accept.” The Illusions of...
For eighteen years, the Serenity Prayer has been my personal prayer and acceptance guide. “God, Grant Me the Serenity to Accept the Things I Cannot Change, Courage to Change the Things I Can, and The Wisdom to Know the Difference.” The...
The genesis of my book “The Gifts of Acceptance: Embracing People and Things as They Are” began with a short blog post I wrote almost 10 years ago titled “5 Good Reasons for Accepting People As They Are.”
Letting Go of Judgment in The Time of Coronavirus (6th in an ongoing series on “Acceptance in The Time of Coronavirus“) I’ve always struggled with being too judgmental of others. I’ve worked a lot on being less so, but it takes constant...
(4th in an ongoing series on Acceptance in The Time of Coronavirus) I’ve often talked and written about the importance of moderating our expectations if we wish to control less and accept more. High expectations can hurt us in a lot of...
“These are Times that Try Men’s Souls” In December 1776 General George Washington and his troops were facing imminent defeat, having been driven out of New York and chased across New Jersey by the British. Washington had been deserted by...
In a recent post, I explained how procrastination is a control based avoidance mechanism that carries potentially severe consequences. Withdrawal is another such mechanism that can be even more detrimental to our well-being. At times we all...
The Holidays are upon us! As beautiful as this season is with decorations, holiday songs, and gift giving, it also comes with a lot of stress , anxiety, apprehension and agitation. Getting the expensive item on sale, standing in lines, and...
The Serenity Prayer* is my guide to practicing acceptance in all my affairs. It is a prayer for acceptance that allows me to be more fully aware, from the very start of my day, of the vast number of things I cannot control or change, and it...
In media interviews for The Gifts of Acceptance I am often asked, “what are the keys to practicing acceptance?” When I say “humility” is an important key, some interviewers ask me to explain further because the link between humility and...
