Acceptance: home, contentment, confidence, belonging, unconditional love
We all experience pain in some form or other. It may be physical, emotional, or mental. Many times we run from pain - ignoring, suppressing, or avoiding it, at all costs. We think pain is the enemy. We will do ANYTHING to get rid of the pain. I've been there - addictions, coping mechanisms, numbing. It might be exercising, emotional eating, going to church, keeping busy so I don't have to think, binge watching movies, reading storybooks, excessive sleeping, etc.
But what if pain was never meant to be fixed. It was meant to be felt. What if there was someone to sit with you in the pain, to bring in kindness and compassion. To tenderly comfort and hold that pain. The good news is, there is. That person is you. Acceptance of yourself is the healing balm. You know yourself better than anyone else, that is why you are the best person to take care of you. I can guess how you might feel, but only you truly know.
There are parts of my story that I wish were different. Choices I made that I wish I could do over. But every piece led me to where I am today and for that I am grateful. I'm not perfect, but that's okay. I'm not meant to be.
The other day I went out to eat with some friends. Beforehand I asked myself how I'd like to show up and what I wanted out of the evening. I just wanted to be a part of the group, to belong. Not loud and obnoxious, but to have a voice and contribute to the conversation, cause I know what I have to say has value. And that's exactly how it played out. I drove home with a happy, satisfied feeling.
Belonging begins by simply accepting yourself and than letting that self be seen.
