What if you just… let go?

Is there something in your life right now that you are trying to fix, change, or move and it just won’t budge?

The harder you pull, the more exhausted you get.

Here’s what I’ve learned: sometimes the thing we’re pulling against is a brick wall. No amount of effort, love, or willpower is going to move it. So what if you just dropped the rope?

That’s the heart of Radical Acceptance.

Acceptance is putting down a load, not giving up

I think we resist the word “acceptance” because it feels like defeat. Like we’re saying it’s okay, we’re letting it win.

There was a period in my life when someone I loved was going through a really hard time. I desperately wanted to help them. But what they were going through, they had to work through themselves. The more I tried to control the situation, the worse things got for both of us.

It wasn’t until I accepted it for what it was, put down that load, and focused on what I could actually control, namely my own responses, that I was finally able to show up for them in a way that actually helped.

Your brain is wired for control, and that’s okay until it isn’t

Feeling in control reduces stress. That’s just how we’re built.

But so much of life is uncontrollable. And when we keep reaching for control when it isn’t possible, we get stuck in a loop. Why is this happening? Why can’t I fix this? Why won’t things change?

The Dalai Lama put it simply:

“If a problem is fixable, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying.”

Acceptance starts with honest self-awareness

Acceptance is a constant practice for me. As a small business owner and a mother, I’ve been through situations that felt genuinely unfair and at times impossible. And it wasn’t until I really sat with them that I was actually able to do something about them.

Even last week, my son wouldn’t go to sleep and I could feel myself getting frustrated. But when I paused, I realised it wasn’t really about him at all. I was exhausted. My body was asking me to rest. Once I accepted that, I told him I needed quiet so I could sleep. We both felt better for it.

That’s acceptance in action. Not dramatic. Just honest.

Want to practice this together?

If this resonates, I’d love to see you at one of my free weekly mindset classes, every Saturday at 9.15am. This month we are practicing radical acceptance. No experience needed. Just a willingness to pause.

Join here: www.findthatpause.com/freemeditation