Acceptance ≠ giving up

Accepting where you are is not the same as resignation or “giving up”. 

Acceptance is recognition.

Before any change, if you can get to a point of recognition and acceptance, you will have a better chance of being able to move forward.

Not accepting where you are is like not looking at the map and compass provided. You can still aim north and make some moves, but acceptance and recognition provide more clear data as to your starting point.

Why do we avoid acceptance?

Well, usually because it bloody hurts. Accepting that you have let yourself down is really bloody hard. Accepting the end of a relationship is really bloody hard. Accepting that you have been hurt and/or hurt yourself is really bloody hard. Accepting that you have a long way to go is often really scary. Acceptance is tough and it often hurts but it is necessary to move on.

Whether you are restarting a training regime after not training for months/years, whether you are refocusing on looking after your health through renewed nutrition behaviors, whether you are learning new mental health techniques to support a fulfilling life, or whether you are moving on from a job, relationship, or place, it is important to accept and recognize where you are now to better understand a. How you got there and b. Where you want to go.

I want to be clear, acceptance is not failure. It’s not giving up. If it feels that way I can absolutely appreciate why, and yet I challenge you to shift that mindset to one of acceptance rather than resignation. Staying resigned makes us more likely to make the same mistakes again and nobody needs that.

We all change. We all go through periods of our lives when things appear to be the best course of action at that time, and over time they become clear that they don’t suit who we are and how we want to live.

If you want to make a change in your health and fitness, recognizing and accepting where you are and how you got there is a liberating and potentially painful worthwhile process.