Week 5: Acceptance and Skillful Action
“Grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.”
Reinhold Niebuhr
In this session, we are exploring acceptance of what arises while also encouraging healthy action. We might not have control over things that happen to us, emotions that arise, current job or family situations, or other people’s behaviors and reactions. When we fight these things, however, we tend to feel frustrated, angry, or defeated, which can be triggers for substance use or other reactive behaviors. When we accept the present as it is, we are not being passive. We are allowing what already is true without struggle or resistance. This is often a necessary first step toward change. The same is true of self-acceptance; it often requires a complete acceptance of ourselves just as we are before real change can occur.
Integration:
Sitting meditation, body scan, mindful movement or walking meditation
SOBER Space - use regularly and when you find yourself in a challenging or high-risk situation.
Explore the SOBER Space in Challenging Situations worksheet.
Re-visit the poem, The Guest House, by Rumi (translation by Coleman Barks) My favorite mindful poetry site: https://cih.ucsd.edu/mindfulness/mindful-poetry