BUILDING CHARACTER AND RESILIENCE

          "A (person) cannot be comfortable without (their) own approval" - Mark Twain

Acceptance

Acceptance means respecting the dignity and rights of people around you regardless of who they are or where they're from.  Everyone deserves to be treated well.  Acceptance is a conscious decision that takes strength, empathy and understanding.  We all have unique qualities and don't need to copy others; we should be comfortable in our own skin.  Acceptance can also mean being flexible when things don't go our way or when we face circumstances beyond our control.

 Acceptance not only helps us feel more comfortable in our own skin but enables us to process and move on from difficult situations more easily.  It makes people around us feel not only seen and valued, but free to express themselves in a unique way.

What does acceptance look like?

Acceptance means treating others equally.    It means smiling at everyone, not just those who do you favours.  Accept means while you are aware of others' faults, you focus on the positive and never let someone's imperfections affect your treatment of them.

Things to reflect on:

• How do I respond when a situation doesn't go my way?
• What are 3 ways I can become more accepting of others?
• What is a frustrating situation in my life right now that I can make easier by practicing flexibility and acceptance?