acceptance

Acceptance. There’s a lot that you can interpret from this word, that’s the beauty of it. You can make this word into anything you want. Over the past year, I have found my definition for this word, and I developed my meaning for it from a Tik Tok.

One time when I was scrolling on Tik Tok for longer than I will admit, I came across a video on my For You Page that talked about the “let them theory”. @melrobbins on Tik Tok has a podcast and during this little clip, she explains that “The next time you feel left out, your friends all go out to brunch together and they don’t invite you. Let them. Or maybe the person you’re dating doesn’t want a commitment. Let them. Or perhaps your spouse does not want to do the 5k with you. Let them.”

When I first saw the video I was a little confused and questioned how could I ever do that because my emotions get pretty intense. But I thought about it more and watched the video probably 5 more times and I realized something. This is really just about accepting what is to come. Through multiple years of therapy and hearing some version of this over and over again, it was this video that really clicked for me. The “let them” theory has been something I have been trying to achieve for a long time now.

For as long as I can remember I have been an anxious person, and there hasn’t been much that has worked for me. But when I started getting really worked up, I tried to just repeat “whatever happens, happens” and slowly it started becoming more natural. After a while of doing this, I started realizing that I have been more accepting of certain things in my life. Whether it is as deep as a diagnosis or as simple as accidentally spilling a coffee, this idea of acceptance has allowed me to understand that things will happen, and I need to give myself a little bit of grace.

I will fully admit that this concept is a lot easier said than done. There have been a lot of times in my life when I am blinded by different negative thoughts and obstacles holding me back, so acceptance wasn’t really something I could do at the time. But, like most things, practice and time help (that’s cliché I know).

This method also doesn’t help all my problems, it’s not a cure. I still get anxious, I still get overwhelmed, and I think negatively, but when I close my eyes and tell myself that I will just accept what comes my way, the intensity lessens. And little by little, I calm down and understand that I simply cannot control the world,

and just like I said, whatever happens, happens.

k…now rage

"Let Them Theory" tik tok @melrobbins