The Key Ingredients to Joyful Living: Acceptance and Surrender

Posted by Dr. Drecun on May 24, 2013

Joyful living or happiness is a concept that individuals desperately desire and sometimes struggle to understand or attain. People convince themselves that once they attain their degree, get their dream job, make their 6 digit income, find their soul-mate, buy their dream home, fit into a size 6 that they will be happy. The problem with this line of thinking is that happiness is put on hold until something else is achieved. We keep believing that, “I’ll be happy once I…” This list goes on and on. There isn’t any reason to wait for all of the pieces of the puzzle to perfectly fall into place prior to attaining joyful living. Joyful living is a conscious choice and a state of being that can be accessed at any time. Joyful living entails self-acceptance and surrender.

Self-acceptance is pivotal. We are whole as we are right now, not 20 lbs. less from now. It is important that we believe this. We are a culmination of our thoughts. When our joyful living is contingent upon arbitrary ideas of finding the perfect mate, attaining the dream job, fitting into our size 4 jeans, we lack self-acceptance and as a result cannot authentically love ourselves and engage in joyful living.

Our thoughts determine our reality and as a result of state of mind. This means we have the power to choose whether we live in a loving environment or a toxic environment. If our mind, body and spirit are in a toxic environment due to a lack of self-acceptance odds are it is going to protect itself with negative thinking and possibly with excess body weight. Realize that happiness will not be found in anything outside ourselves. This includes external approval from others or on the number on the scale. Happiness comes from establishing a connection to our higher self, connecting with our true self that is loving and whole. Plant the seed of self-acceptance so that love can flourish by meditating, prayer and positive affirmations; “I am whole and lovable just as I am”, “I honor my mind and body and I take great care of it”.

Negative thoughts are just as toxic to our mental, emotional and physical wellness. When our mind gets caught up in lower thoughts our energy gets depleted as well. The beauty is that we can release or surrender anything that does not serve us in living from a place of love and connecting with our true self. All fear, negative thoughts and judgments can be surrendered. If it does not serve you, let it go. Try this: “I release these fearful and negative thoughts, so I can connect to my true self”.

Loving and positive thoughts allow us to cultivate mental strength and become more powerful. Practicing gratitude allows us to engage in joyful living and focus on what is positive which in turn creates happiness. Embrace life’s journey and the growth and wisdom we attain through life’s challenges, rather than the destination. We do not need to wait until we purchase our dream home to be happy.

Accept yourself for who you are today. Love yourself unconditionally. If negative thoughts arise let them go as they do not serve you.

A.C.T. will provide free resource information for individuals and families to help promote education. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or (858) 792-3541. You may also visit us online at www.a4ct.com. ACT serves the Del Mar 92014 and Rancho Santa Fe 92067 area.