Non-judgmental acceptance is a big part of mindfulness. But it is important understand that acceptance is not about “giving up” or “giving in.” When you accept a situation, it does not mean you agree with it, or that you like it, or that you won’t eventually do something to change it.
Acceptance means that we stop fighting what already is. Or, more specifically, we stop fighting our automatic reaction to what already is—a reaction that often limits our options and makes things worse. Acceptance gives us the chance to see how our reactions contribute to the problem, and from that more open place we are better able to find a wiser response to a situation. We can outsmart the situation rather than have it outsmart us.
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