In life, we will experience many challenges and untimely and unfair circumstances. They come with being human and are often beyond our control. What we do have control over, however, is how we respond to them. We can avoid unnecessary suffering through the practice of acceptance.

Imagine looking forward to your morning walk, only to look out your window and see that it’s raining. You start cursing the rain for ruining your plans and vocalize your disbelief of the circumstances with things like, “I can’t believe this!” and “Why today?!” This initial frustration is natural, and you can spend so much time resisting or wishing that things were different, and yet you still won’t be able to change the fact that it’s raining.

On the other hand, if you acknowledge your frustration and accept that the rain just is, then you can put your energy into deciding how to proceed with your day, which may simply involve grabbing an umbrella and raincoat and going for the walk anyway. By shifting focus from what’s outside of your control to what’s within your control, you put yourself in a place of action and forward-focused thinking.

Just as with the rain, when an unfavorable situation occurs and difficult emotions arise (think anger, sadness, guilt, frustration,........

© Psychology Today