Today’s post started at 4AM this morning. I woke up reflecting on what a friend and fellow coach Marina Galan was sharing yesterday about her journey and exploration of acceptance and conditions.

Life really has an uncanny way of serving us a mixed bag—unexpected joys, unforeseen challenges, and everything in between. Yet, most of us are guilty of living conditionally: “I’ll be happy when…” or “I can relax if…” But what if the secret to true freedom lies not in waiting for life to align with our desires but in embracing it as it is?

The key to this freedom lies in understanding where our experiences truly come from and seeing that life, in all its unpredictability, is simply doing its thing. This understanding unlocks a profound truth: we are far more resilient and capable than we realize.

Acceptance

Acceptance isn’t about giving up or passively enduring challenges. It’s about recognizing that our struggles are not created by the circumstances themselves but by our thoughts about them. The Three Principles—Mind, Consciousness, and Thought—reveal how our experiences are generated from within, moment by moment.

When we stop wrestling with “what is” and accept life as it unfolds, we create space for resilience to emerge naturally. Acceptance doesn’t eliminate life’s imperfections; it allows us to embrace them with a sense of grace.

I can almost hear your mind rattling around with this one. Do you mean I have to accept cruelty, pain, suffering and what has happened to me in the past?

Just sit with that for a moment and read on.

A Tool for Acceptance

Mindfulness (being aware of your current feelings and sensations without judgment), helps us tune into the present moment, where life is truly happening. When we notice our thoughts without attaching to them, we begin to see that they are just passing clouds, not the sky itself.

Simple practices like focusing on your breath, observing nature, or pausing for a few moments of stillness can cultivate this awareness. With mindfulness, we see how the Principles play out in real-time, helping us regulate emotions and respond to life with greater clarity.

Steven Covey wrote, we become more response-able. Responding to the moment, as it happens.

From Conditions to Freedom

Conditional living stems from beliefs we’ve picked up over time—beliefs that tether our happiness to external outcomes. But the Three Principles teach us that happiness is an inside job, created by thought in the moment, not the circumstances we face.

Reflect for just a moment.

How many times have you heard yourself or other say, “I will (fill in the blank) when (begin story here)?

Me too! I get caught up in it too. It’s just habitual thinking.

When we realize this, we stop waiting for life to “get better” and start seeing the freedom available to us right now. Perspective is everything, and shifting ours opens up a world of possibilities.

Resilience

Resilience is less about bouncing back and more about realizing we were never truly broken. Acceptance is the soil where resilience grows. By understanding the Principles, we see that even in our toughest moments, there’s a quiet wisdom within us, ready to guide us.

It’s like the duck that takes a dive into the water and surfaces to find the water just flows off it’s back leaving it dry. We tend to focus on the diving into the water (circumstances) rather than the fact that we are dry!

Any one in the Emergency Services, has an experience of finding strength not in controlling the chaos but in trusting their ability to navigate it moment by moment. Experiences like these remind us that resilience is innate, waiting to be uncovered through acceptance.

Again I have seen us get trapped into thinking the chaos is the culprit and fall into the trap of “If only.”

Contentment in Everyday

Contentment exists when we stop placing conditions on it. Gratitude emerges in a powerful way to nurture this—giving us focus on what’s good right now. You don’t have to BE grateful, you already are and you see that when you untether yourself from a condition.

Consider and explore the idea that you are not broken and that you are enough and what ever is happening is just happening. Let it anchor you to the present and remind you that life doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful.

Your Life’s Journey

When we accept life as it is, we start to see its unpredictability not as a threat but as an adventure. The Three Principles help us appreciate the creative process of life, where every moment is a blank canvas painted by our thoughts.

It can at times appear as a scary image or an abstract of possibilities or just a banana duct taped to a wall. (I really can’t believe someone paid money for that!)

You find yourself in joy over the little things—a shared laugh, a sunrise, or even the quiet hum of a routine day. Acceptance deepens our relationships with ourselves and others, allowing us to connect without judgment or conditions.

Overcoming Challenges

What I am sharing is not always easy. There is a feel to it, like learning to sail for the first time. (I put together a short video on that here) Our minds love to cling to “what should be.”

I am also not saying every situation is pleasant. Syd Banks is quoted in saying, “Life is a contact sport.” You are going to hit rough seas, wind that seems unmanageable. But when we remember the source of our experience, we can gently redirect ourselves back to the present, let go of the tiller long enough for the boat to upright it’s self, demonstrating how resilient we are.

It’s helpful to have tools like journaling, meditation, or support from a community to navigate these challenges. If needed, seeking guidance from a coach or mentor can provide valuable insights along the way. These are not solutions, helpful yes, but you are the solution.

Transformation

Imagine living in peace amidst chaos by understanding that your inner world wasn’t dictated by external circumstances.

Each journey we take teaches us that acceptance and letting go of conditions isn’t a destination—it’s a way of living, one moment at a time.

There is no place to get to. You show up and respond accordingly.

Embracing Your Journey

Acceptance invites us to live life beyond our conditions, freeing us from the exhausting pursuit of “enough.” The more we understand how our experiences are generated, the easier it becomes to trust life’s flow.

Start with low lying fruit. What is one condition that I can let go of and just see what happens. Experience is the best teacher, so I don’t want you to intellectually understand what I am sharing here. Experience it for yourself.

So take a deep breath. Let go of the “shoulds” and “what-ifs.” Baby-step into the freedom of what is. Life is already happening—your only job is to show up and let it unfold.

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Kind regards,

Just for fun