How You Can Tap Into Your Ability to Overcome Obstacles - Goodnet

Are you inspired by Dickens’ story?

Looking at your own life, you too must remember bad times. Some of them might have been incredibly bad times. Or maybe you’re still in the midst of them.

You, like Dickens, may find yourself inspired to tell others about them. Don’t put the idea aside and tell yourself, “later.” Don’t wait too long to get started. The desire to do something will fade if you wait too long. You are the only person who can share your experiences in the way you can. You are the only person who can understand those experiences in the way you do. That means you’re in a prime position to tell stories that might help others. You will be able to show compassion. Because you’ve been there.

This is how God can make good come out of bad.

But the radical acceptance many of us are taught in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) might tell us to hold back—to accept what is and move on. And yet, many of us would say, “but how can we accept what is so obviously unjust?’

Corrina Horne explains radical acceptance this way on the Better Help website:

”Radical acceptance is used in situations that are beyond our control. Radical acceptance should not be engaged in situations that require a change, such as an abusive relationship or a dangerous work situation. Instead, radical acceptance is applied to things that occur without us being able to have a hand in them. Radical acceptance can be applied to a devastating breakup, a sudden, sharp turn in your life plans, the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job. Each of these scenarios could prompt an unending response of fury, denial, pain, and fighting – or each of them can be accepted as a new reality and moved on from. Ultimately, the goal of radical acceptance is progression and growth in the place of stagnation and clinging to the past.” [1]

It would be wrong to use radical acceptance when an injustice is occurring that could be changed, and over which we have control. How often do we see unjust situations and think to ourselves, “Relax, that’s just the way it is”. I don’t think any of the individuals featured in this series felt that way about the wrongs they tried to overcome.

Imagine if William Wilberforce had tolerated the Slave Trade, as so many of his countrymen did. He took it upon himself to wake them up to the injustice of it. Lesser individuals might have considered the situation out of their control and given up. But Wilberforce had the passion and the opportunity to speak and make himself heard.

However, few have it in themselves to be a Wilberforce. If you’re not able to fight wrongs due to your health, your lack of skills or life situation, radical acceptance should be applied. This is the reality you’ll need to live with. Don’t cling to the pain and frustration. It’s time to move on.

But here is another “however”: Even if you can’t right the wrongs in a big way, I believe all of us can help correct wrongs in small ways. You don’t have be a grand leader doing great things. As Helen Keller, the American author and educator who was both blind and deaf said, “The world is not moved only by the mighty shoves of the heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.”

[1] Corrina Horne, What is Radical Acceptance and how can it help me? (betterhelp.com)

This has been Part 17 of the series A LIFE WORTH LIVINGl. Read  Part 18 – We All Need a Voice.