To embrace new awareness we practice acceptance.
When we practice acceptance we immediately create possibility for growth.
Acceptance is feminine in nature; it implies receptivity. It requires kindness and understanding towards oneself and in turn, towards others. To practise acceptance is to embrace possibility and to allow space for further growth and deeper understanding. Acceptance is fundamental to open mindedness.
Becoming aware and accepting aspects of ourselves that we do not enjoy, requires courage and strength. When the aspects that we do not enjoy about ourselves are accepted they are able to be understood and in time, released.
Once released, the space created is replenished by elements of a more positive nature. For example; if we discover we are very intolerant of certain behaviours and through a process of self examination become aware that we ourself practice these behaviours, once accepted, this allows us to transcend and replace the unacceptable with the acceptable or the inhibitive with the productive.
If we resist new awareness we apply a hand brake to evolution. Resistance of new awareness is an attempt to regain un-awareness, which is not possible. Judgment or self criticism stemming from new awareness is counter productive to growth and neutralises possibility. Therefore to practice acceptance becomes a pre-requisite to the actor’s instrumental growth.
Sometimes we find ourselves in reaction, out of hurt we say words in anger which in turn hurt another and so on. We come away from this event with self criticism and dis-ease over our behaviour. The more quickly we can come to accepting this behaviour the more quickly we can begin to learn from it. Beginning a process of letting go and working on the possibility of not reacting to similar situations in the future.
Practicing acceptance is fundamental to the philosophy of “Life in Acting: Acting in Life”. To practice acceptance is to create room for growth, is to embrace the possibility of change, is to allow new knowledge to contribute to a strengthening process of self awareness and self identity. It is essential if we are to remain open to receive. The more we strengthen our self identity the more we come to understand the universal identity. Acceptance is an essential element in the learning process.
