If your teen or young adult is suffering from mental illness or addiction, acceptance is integral to finding peace in your life.
Why?
If your child is struggling with something, this means it is already happening. It is the current reality.
Until you accept what is happening, your brain continues to fight against it. You use your energy towards not wanting this, instead of handling it.
Continuing to fight against reality will not make the illness or addiction go away but it will rob you of being present in your life.
This means you will miss out on experiencing joy in things like spending time with your child or other loved ones, friends, or doing activities you once enjoyed.
Acceptance will allow you to…
Have more peace because you are no longer experiencing the inner turmoil associated with fighting against reality
Use your energy for more positive things
Become more resourceful because it frees up your energy from things you can’t change to things you can
Be present so you can enjoy the moments with your child
Have a greater understanding and compassion for your child’s situation
Find joy in your day
If you are struggling to find joy in the moments you are spending doing something positive, consider that you have not accepted what is happening now.
Acceptance does not mean you want or like whatever is happening. And it does not mean you can’t help your child with their struggles. It means you are acknowledging the facts of a situation and not focusing your energy on why it shouldn’t be that way.
Accepting reality can be freeing because the inner turrmoil is no longer there.
Acceptance is the foundation for growth.
I would love to hear how you are practicing acceptance or where you are struggling with it.
Sending love and light,
Debbie