Accept Yourself

We are gradually moving into the Fall season. It’s lovely to notice the small shifts in the weather. I’ve been reflecting on all the shifts and changes that I’ve been through over the last 2 1/2 years, since I moved from the big city of San Francisco to the small town of Sedona. I can’t believe how much I’ve grown through all of my experiences. I have found this acceptance that whatever is coming into my life to “go through” or “deal with” is truly for my highest learning. So I thought this month we could work on “accepting ourselves” and everything we are working through.

Accept Yourself… accept the current version of yourself right now, in this moment. That can feel like a big pill to swallow sometimes… but it is key to bringing our bodies and minds into peace. Only from this place of peace can we appreciate this life we are living. In the traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda, the goal in life is to be in a sattvic state. This is a place where we are not taking on the dramas of the world, but living as much for each moment and each day as we can knowing it’s for our highest learning.

We are all trying to be better versions of ourselves, but WHAT IF… we just accepted where we are right now, in our bodies, in our careers/work, in our relationships, in our yoga practice? Even when I say this, my body relaxes a little. My dear friend (an Ayurvedic teacher) and I were recently talking about how powerful it is when we accept the understanding that the body is doing the BEST it can with the circumstances it’s gone through up to this current moment. Think about that for a moment… the body (physical, mental, and emotional) is just a representation of all the life events we’ve been through up to NOW. So accept where you are right now. You’ve been on a beautiful amazing journey to get to this moment in your life.

“Acceptance is true inner peace because it helps the mind no longer react with the tension of wanting something different”

~ Yung Pueblo 

There is a power to Acceptance… I recently came across an email by Yung Pueblo where he was talking about the “power of acceptance.” This excerpt from his email was quite powerful:

The Power of Acceptance

“Acceptance is the most direct path to inner peace and to the unfolding of new wisdom. Even though it is the simplest answer to relaxing our being and seeing things more clearly, acceptance is ignored because it is challenging to practice. Applying acceptance means you have to let go of what could be and finally embrace what is.

There is a common misconception that inner peace is a state of bliss, where you are coated in the sensation of pleasure and you never experience any troubles or hard feelings. This is far from the truth because the vast majority of life is a long series of uncontrollable events, which means that things will eventually happen that are not to your liking. Even though difficult times come in waves, you can prepare your mind to better handle the ups and downs by cultivating inner balance through acceptance.

Building a sense of non-reactiveness to your ever-changing emotions does not mean ignoring them, it means feeling them completely without letting them govern your mind and actions. Instead of becoming your emotions, you sit with them and observe them – there is a subtle difference here that helps you regain your power and become less attached.”

- Yung Pueblo 

How do we move towards acceptance? In so many ways, Yoga allows us these times in our lives to notice our thoughts and where our mind is at any given time. The biggest key to accepting yourself is knowing that you can change your mindset from a negative place to that of learning and growth.

So… what are some things we can do to move towards ACCEPTANCE?… Appreciate the next breath in. I recently took a yoga class when I was traveling to see some friends in Amsterdam this past summer that was really powerful for me. One thing that the teacher said was, “enjoy your breath in.” I’m not sure why, but this was really helpful for me in that moment. I am always thinking of the exhale and letting things go… I really loved taking the time to enjoy the breath in. Not notice it, or enjoy it, or hold it… but enjoy it. It felt like the ability to accept this current moment, by enjoying my breath in.

“Enjoy your breath IN…”

~ Lana (owner of Breathing Space Yoga- mysore in Amsterdam)

I'll wrap this up with a beautiful quote by my favorite teacher, TNH. We just need to accept ourselves and find that inner seed of peace. 

Sending you so many well wishes,

Nicole Tierre