Acceptance is a key teaching by almost all spiritual masters. Accept people and situations as they are. This is easier said than practice. Are you able to accept everyone and every situation with ease? How do you practice acceptance?
It takes a lot of time and reflection to be able to accept things as they are, especially since this often implies that one didn't get to have what he or she is hoping for.
I don't think there's a straight path towards acceptance; people deal with it in their own little ways.
As for me, what I usually do is to recognize the situation. No matter how vague it is, I'll try to reflect on the things I did and didn't do, and to the decisions I chose to take that led me into such shortcomings. I also tell myself that there will always be uncertainties in everything I do, and that I can't have the best of both worlds. All these are easier said than done and oftentimes realizing all of these, as I've said, entails a lot of thinking.
What makes it harder to accept certain things is to also recognize that it isn't meant for you but for others, it is. During these times, there's really nothing you can do but to accept it.
Life is tough, but that doesn't mean we should give up. With acceptance comes maturity, and when we reach this point, I think it'll be a good start for us to do better next time.
1. Understand that you can't control everything: Accepting that you cannot control everything that happens to you or around you can be the first step towards acceptance.
2. Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a practice of being aware of the present moment and accepting whatever is happening in the present. By being mindful, you can learn to accept and let go of what comes up.
3. Be Kind to Yourself: Accepting yourself is one of the most important steps towards acceptance. Practice self-love and self-compassion by being kind to yourself and forgiving yourself for your mistakes.
4. Let Go of the Need to Judge: Judgment can make it difficult to accept yourself and the people around you. Let go of the need to judge and practice non-judgmental thinking.
5. Seek Compassion: Compassion helps us to understand and accept the experiences of others. Spend time learning about the struggles and challenges of others and practice empathy and understanding.