CATALYST NEWS
Eva Dahm, CPCC, MA
September, 2007
Dedicated to your growth and exploration
ACCEPTANCE LEADS TO PEACE
Acceptance is a key to finding peace in life.
The opposite of accepting a situation or person
is resistance or judgment. Whenever you are suffering
or feeling overwhelmed, it's your mind or your
ego wanting a situation or person to be different
from what it or from what she is.
If a family member is ill and facing surgery,
this is a fact. Wanting it to not be so creates
resistance and suffering for you. And peace is
not present.
The Tao Te Ching (an ancient spiritual writing)
says yielding is the way to peace.
In his new book on the Tao, Wayne Dyer adds the
advice to "allow yourself to resist brittleness
and brokenness by BENDING." Yield to the
information that someone is ill and facing surgery.
When your mind opens to the reality, you can see
possibilities. Perhaps prayer or assistance would
be supportive in the circumstances.
Dyer adds, "The more you yield each day,
the more you return to the peace and harmony of
the Tao."
THE STORY
When we cling to a different reality than what
is, we want to remain in the drama of the story.
When we accept what is and adjust, then all sorts
of choices arise.
I recently faced a professional disappointment
and was just beginning to work up a frustrated
head of steam. I stopped and said, "Okay,
what if what happened is perfect." At that
moment, it healed my frustration, and I had a
huge insight. I realized what happened was perfect
and affirmed a greater positive truth about me.
I was laughing in delight.
From another viewpoint, Myrtle Fillmore, co-founder
of Unity, said, "If there are any obstacles,
we have made them. God never put anything in the
way of progress. If we made them, they are lessons."
So stop resisting, accept the reality and the
lesson is revealed.
ACTION WITH ACCEPTANCE
Does acceptance mean we do not take action? Absolutely
not.
Eckhart Tolle in The Power of Now explains that
from acceptance we hear God's right inspired action
rather than our REACTION. Accepting the situation
connects you with God. Then your intuition and
Inner Voice can inform your action. Being in the
Now when you consider a situation creates freedom.
Accepting reality changes who you are says Tolle.
"When you are transformed, your whole world
is transformed, because the world is only a reflection."
If anything "bad" happened, Tolle suggests
using it to "force yourself into present
moment awareness." Here in the now is peace.
Tolle suggests first to accept the "reality
of the moment" because it cannot be undone.
And if you cannot accept the exterior reality,
accept the interior condition. Accept and take
responsibility for the emotional reaction you
are having. Allow the pain to be.
Years ago I realized as I read Ram Dass and Paul
Gorman's book How Can I Help, that pain is simple
discomfort. Most of the problem with pain is we
tighten around the discomfort. If we can soften
and drop the resistance, it lessens. Witness,
observe and refrain from judging.
Author Byron Katie says in A Thousand Names for
Joy, "When you are loving what is and realizing
all the ways in which your life is actually better
(because of what is), and from that calm center
doing everything you can. There's nothing more
life-giving than inner peace."
ACCEPTING OTHERS
Truly accepting others also creates love and
peace. We naturally disagree with others around
us-friends and family. We are different people
with unique views of the world. When we can accept
others' actions and ideas, we connect with them
better. We may not understand, but we can accept
and allow. Thus peace is found. And our example
of acceptance teaches them and others.
In the novel Tending Roses, Lisa Wingate's 90-year
old character, Grandma Rose, says, "Sometimes
we must try to view the actions of those around
us with forgiveness. We must realize that they
are going on the only road they can see. Sometimes
we cannot raise our chins and see eye to eye,
so we must bow our heads and have faith in one
another."
Byron Katie, says "Whatever disrespect,
invalidation, or fear you project onto an enemy-sooner
or later you'll project it onto your spiritual
teacher. Everyone is your teacher, and the most
powerful spiritual practice is to hang out with
the people who criticize you. You don't even have
to do that physically, since they live right here
in your head. And when you think you've grown
beyond all your defensiveness and justifications,
then hang out with your enemies physically, and
see how lighthearted you are when they trash you.
That's the real test."
When we accept what is in a situation or a person,
then listen to our Inner Voice of love real peace
is possible despite any appearances.
Want to coach on feeling peace? Give Eva a call
or click:
Complimentary
Coaching Session, Email Eva
The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle.
A Thousand Names for Joy, Byron Katie.
How Can I Help, Ram Dass and Paul Gorman.
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