Acceptance: The Right Advice

I am one of those persons who give a lot of advice to others, solicited or otherwise. But the reaction that I often got for the latter has made me appreciate and accept the saying: Speech is silver, silence is golden.

Also, to my chagrin, I have found out that my own life is a mess.

Various aspects of my life look like a hurried spread on the table of life. The biryani took a lot of effort. But the spices have not infused their flavour and fragrance satisfactorily. The curry looks yummy but is tasteless. The chappatis (Indian bread) are all overdone and underdone at the same time. The dessert is way too low on sweetness and leaves you with a mild annoyance.

I thought I had everything needed to put together a wholesome and fulfilling experience — the recipe and all the ingredients. However, the taste and the state of various aspects of my life prove that I have been wrong somewhere.

It was a moment of epiphany for me when I read the theme of the latest #TheWriteChoice challenge. The word acceptance was staring at me. I humbly accept that in the disagreement between life and me, the former has the final say.

I feel I have not been in sync with my own life as I have not figured it out yet. But I must give up this futile struggle and make peace with my past, present and future. Such acceptance may not change things for me but it has set me free.

What acceptance has taught me:

• Life advises. Listen to it. Deep down inside you know what’s right and what’s wrong. Accept the right and act on it.
• Acceptance comes from an understanding of life and brings peace and healing.
• Acceptance is surrendering to God’s will. It prerequisites a certain level of faith and willpower and further strengthens them.
• Acceptance relieves you of the burden of excessive expectations. It makes you open to the idea that sometimes life may not offer what you want but give what you need.

• Self-acceptance and self-love are a must to accept your mistakes and correct them without self-pity and self-loathing.

I now usually hold back but it seems that this time life itself has provided for me to dispense some unsolicited advice. And I have learnt that you must say yes to life. So there you are. I hope the learnings of my messed-up life are of some use to you all.