Pillar #2 of the 4 Pillars To Being a Good Human Being: Wisdom From Vision Quest

In the last article I shared Pillar #1 to being a good human being. Click here to read Pillar #1.

What is the 2nd pillar (or 2nd step) to being a good human being? 

ACCEPTANCE.

We live in a world of rich diversities (cultures, race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, plants, animals, etc, etc.).  While diversity can be very enriching and brings us so much learning and variety, it can also cause frictions. 

Acceptance is crucial to living harmoniously side by side on this planet.   

In the five stages of grieving (denial, anger, bargaining, sadness, acceptance)
acceptance is the final (and crucial) step to overcoming a loss.   Without acceptance, people are stuck in grieving.  Once acceptance takes place, people are more ready to move forward with their lives.

Acceptance is crucial to being a good human being.   

Not accepting people or things creates stress, pressure, unhappiness, anxiety.  When we don't accept, we create hurt for ourselves, and for others.  

Once we accept something or someone, we can move forward, we can live in peace, we can be empowered. 

We must learn to accept people for who they are, what shape they are or traits they have; we must accept people's beliefs and lifestyles; we must accept all the plants and animals for being here, including the caterpillars who eat up my kale.  Some people hate mosquitoes. I am not a fan of mosquitoes or parasites, but I learn to accept that they are here, living on this planet alongside us, and to stay away from them. 

We must accept ourselves, our weaknesses, strengths and circumstances.  For example, many of us don't have the perfect Hollywood portrayed body.  Some of us despise our bodies because we're overweight.  The more we do that, the heavier our bodies may get.  Once we accept our bodies for what they are, we can begin to work toward a healthier body.  Beating ourselves up only makes it harder to get in shape.  

Many of us are born into dysfunctional families and raised terribly.  We can cry and complain about it or accept that, that is our past, and begin to heal the hurt. 

When I say to accept your circumstance, I am not saying to just live with it. I am saying accept that it's there, that it bothers you, instead of fighting against it, being in denial, or wishing it doesn't exist.  Then you can begin to make positive changes, or live your life peacefully despite of it. 

You don't have to like something or someone to accept them.  And you do not have the right to hurt them just because you don't like them. 

In some spiritual beliefs, people don't kill animals they don't like.  They leave them alone. It's hard for me to see people step on a spider just because the spider happens to crawl into their view.  The spider has done nothing to hurt them other than existing in the same place with them. 

I know of a teacher who lives out in the desert.  She has many wild life visitors -  ants, lizards, snakes, coyotes, birds.  She respects and accepts them.  She welcomes them into her property.  The energy in her property is good. All the people who come to visit feel welcome and accepted and they can feel the good vibration of the property. 

All changes must come from within ourselves first, then our environment will change.  

While we are not in control of changing other people, we have the control to accept other people for who they are and the plants and animals for what they are.  We have the control to live peacefully alongside them. 

Everyone and everything on Earth serves a purpose.  If you can accept, you can move forward and focus on your life. 

Acceptance is something we human yearn for.  If we want to be accepted, we must also accept ourselves and others. 

In the next article we will discuss Pillar #3.  Check back soon.