Usually when I hear someone talk about 'acceptance,' I think it means to just deal with whatever bad event is occurring in my life...and furthermore, deal with it in a way that doesn't impact those around me. Actually, however, that's not entirely accurate.

Acceptance of "now" simply means to notice, acknowledge, feel whatever is presenting itself in the moment. Yesterday, Inauguration day, if you switched on your television you saw many people across the country were feeling hopeful, happy, peaceful, and/or exhilarated about the future. Acceptance of that "now" means to truly feel those positive feelings...really acknowledge them and give them your awareness. To accept: "I'm really at peace right now. I feel truly hopeful about the future." There is healing in that acceptance. Neural-pathways of positive thoughts are being created in your neural-net when you think like that.

Of course, there are those moments (and days) when negative events are occurring and acceptance truly means feeling the pain associated with the event at hand. We know that railing against what is happening doesn't make it stop. In fact, it can extend the life or energy of the event. So, to simply feel the sadness, for example, and acknowledge: "I'm so sad and feeling really low right now," can be healing in and of itself. When we simply acknowledge and feel the pain, we allow it to move through us in its own course of time. When its done, its done. If we hang on to it by fighting it and being mad or indignant that we have to experience this discomfort, we might actually lengthen it. And, after all...it is human nature that pain and pleasure continuously move in and out of our lives.

So next time you notice that you're experiencing some strong feelings of any type, take a few moments to sit with those feelings. Acknowledge what they are. Feel them. Breathe deeply and relax, and notice how your body feels. And reassure yourself...good or bad, wanted or resented, these feelings are moving through you right now, and eventually they will be gone...no matter whether you fight them or hang on to them or simply observe them and watch them pass. Ask yourself: How do I wish to handle these feeling? How do I wish to feel after these feelings are gone? And, what do I wish to get out of this life's experience?