Acceptance

A definition of acceptance in psychology, by Roberto Assagioli

From the Archive in Florence

“A spiritual paradox – True (positive, generous) acceptance often is the most effective and quickest means to free oneself from a situation, a condition, a bondage. This for two reasons: 1. Psychologically: Rebellion sets into motion the “law of reverse effort” – it blinds and induces to excessive, stupid reactions and thus often complicates the situation, tighten the knot. (Examples: anger and violent opposition against an “enemy”, etc.). Instead acceptance, serenity, absence of personal antagonistic reactions, generosity often turns the enemy into a friend, disarms him – or at least gives a clear impersonal view of the situation and allows to act wisely, effectively in order to change matters.”

“Spiritually and esoterically. Acceptance is the way of “exhausting a karmic effect” in the quickest and most harmonious way, restoring the equilibrium […]. It enables to recognise the “spiritual lesson” which the situation is intended to teach, to willingly “learn it”, and after that often the situation changes spontaneously, almost magically. (This often requires positive, dynamic action, but without passion or attachment).” 1-III-1942″

In another post from the archive, Assagioli writes the following:

“accepting ‘what is’ reveals a door to peace and true power. If you are willing to deeply explore what you find difficult to accept and why… not in someone else’s behavior, but in your own… wisdom, insight and freedom follow. It all comes back to knowing yourself….what you honestly feel, believe, want…and why? And the only way to know that is to look moment by moment… and keep looking. A wise author said. “The price of freedom is eternal mindfulness”. (From AAP-Journal 1-2020)

From a lecture called Moral Conflicts – Fourth Lesson March 22, 1964, Assagioli writes the following:

“What are the solutions to moral conflicts? For all those who could be called “proud”, who do not want to acknowledge their deficiencies or their shortcomings, the solution is honest recognition; that is, the removal of the repressed guilt in the unconscious, and the admission of the non-validity of their self-justifications. For everyone, but especially for those who are depressed or those who have an excessive sense of inferiority and self-depreciation, the solution lies in the acceptance of one’s imperfection, in the recognition that it is part of the human condition from which no one escapes; and that therefore it is an illusion or a pretense to consider oneself exempt from blame, or to condemn oneself for one’s imperfections.”

“Of course, this acceptance should not be passive; it should not be an excuse to remain as one is; acceptance should be succeeded by the purpose of a progressive overcoming, through the use of appropriate methods. This is based on a dynamic conception of the human psyche, in which there is nothing fixed, nothing static. Therefore there is nothing fated or inevitable in the human condition, but rather there is a continuous progress, a perennial development. This is the principle of evolution, widely recognized in biology, applied to psychology.”