Acceptance

Accepting something is not the same as approving it. I can accept that a situation needs to be changed, especially if I have done what I can do to change it today. Alcoholics who want to get and stay sober have to accept (not just admit) that they are alcoholic, and start taking the actions described in the twelve steps.

Acceptance produces a great sense of peace or serenity if I can really surrender or "turn it over" to a Higher Power.

It is also necessary to accept the positive gift of spiritual development. This may not seem like a big obstacle - who wouldn't want something like that? But it involves change, letting go of past ways and accepting, usually on faith or the word of others, a new path.

How to do it? Sometimes it is useful to reinforce my concept of a higher power. If I meditate on what God is to me and what God's will for me is, I have a much better picture of what I am turning this problem over to. That makes it much easier to let go.