Acceptance - It is What It is

 
If you've been paying attention, class, you'll notice my last two blog topics were about the importance of Surrender and Humility while asking a Higher Power to remove the urge to drink or use. The topic du jour (fancy French talk meaning "of the day") is Acceptance, which is a critical element when speaking with the Big Guy In The Sky.
If I were asked to define the word acceptancein 10 words or less, it would be something like “It is what it is and that’s okay”. Acceptance is a simple concept, if not always easy to apply. Acceptance is learning to accept the good things in life, as well as the bad. Even difficult experiences can teach us great things and there is much wisdom in the expression “inside every dark cloud there is a silver lining”.
Acceptance plays a huge role in applying the 3 Steps. Before we can admit we are powerless over any problem in life, we must first accept that there is a problem and we must accept that our life has become unmanageable because of it. Before we can surrender our will to a Higher Power, we must accept that a power greater than our own not only exists, but can and will help us to overcome our problem. And we must come to accept that there are some things in life that we cannot control or change using our own power - no matter how hard we try.
A lot of people refuse to accept that a Higher Power exists. Many tell themselves that if a loving God or Higher Power did exist, it would never allow murder, starvation, natural disasters, abusive parents, or other terrible and seemingly random events to occur. Others have come to fear a Higher Power after being taught in church or family that God will send them straight to hell if they don’t behave. Yet others choose to deny the existence of a Higher Power because their egos lead them to believe there could not possibly be any power wiser or more powerful than their own.
We are all free to believe as we wish, of course, but we are not free to choose the consequences of our beliefs. Our thoughts and actions are direct reflections of our beliefs, not just our thoughts. In other words, our beliefs affect our thoughts and our thoughts affect our behavior, as well. Self-centered, egotistical behavior results from self-centered, egotistical thinking. It’s been said before that it was our best thinking that got us into our worst mess, and it’s often true.
Acceptance doesn’t mean you have to forgive the drunk driver that killed someone near and dear to you. Acceptance means that you’ve learned to come to terms with the fact that what’s done is done and all the tears, anger, or drugs and alcohol in the world won’t bring them back. But if you are willing to believe in a Higher Power, then you must also believe that life after death exists. In other words, none of us ever truly dies and we will all be reunited with our loved ones one day. For those willing to believe, accepting the loss becomes a little less difficult. Not easy, but much less difficult.
Some people choose to focus on the ugliness in the world, rather than its beauty. War, poverty, unemployment, disease and crime definitely qualify as ugly. But then there are the oceans, the mountains, the blue skies and countless stars glimmering at night. If there is any question that a Higher Power not only exists, but consists of divine energy, all one needs to do is observe a single flower and ask if any human being on earth could create one of his or her own. The answer to the question will remind us of our own limited power and might well humble you, as well.
The truth is that there will always be both hardships and beauty in life. Acceptance is coming to terms with both the good and the bad in life. It’s not like we have much choice when it comes to acceptance. We can choose to enjoy the ride and go with the flow or we can rage our own private battle with the universe. Either way, we have no choice but to accept life on life’s terms. 
Refusal to accept the things we can’t control will never cause anything but inner turmoil, misery and distress. Acceptance is the oil that makes the ride we call life run a little smoother.