Lisa O Engelhardt - Acceptance Therapy

Lisa O. Engelhardt

Illustrated by R. W. Alley

Abbey Press

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

Text copyright 1992 by Lisa O. Engelhardt

Illustrations copyright 1992 by St. Meinrad Archabbey

ISBN 978-1-4976-8826-1

Abbey Press Publications
1 Hill Drive
St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577
www.abbeypress.com

Distributed by Open Road Distribution
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New York, NY 10014
www.openroadmedia.com

We want to be in control. We want our life to follow the mental master plan weve devised that ultimately leads to Real Happiness. But circumstancesloss, illness, unresolvable problems, burnout, addiction, monotonyoften foil our plan. And we struggle to reconcile ourselves to the limitations and the brokenness of our life.

Acceptance Therapy is for those who have trouble letting gowho find themselves clinging to their own life-blueprint instead of cooperating with the fluidity of grace. Taking inspiration from Vincent P. Collinss best-selling booklet Acceptance, this collection of guidelines encourages you to plunge into the reality of your life right nowby accepting yourself, accepting others personal choices, accepting mystery, and, above all, accepting the Love that is the current of all life.

Practicing a daily habit of acceptance may not change the circumstances of your life, but it can gradually transform the way you experience life. For anyone who wants to be more in tune with the harmony of life, this book will strike a resonating chord.

Acceptance doesnt mean giving in or giving up; it means giving allyour hopes, sorrows, worriesGod.

Stop living in a past that is gone and a tomorrow that is yet to come. Life is only this place, this time, this breathright now.

An attitude of acceptance is a constant prayer. Turn your life over to God with every beat of your heart.

Acceptance is the only real source of serenity. You can live with your brokenness and in spite of it.

You may not be able to do anything about a problem today. When that happens, accept it and forget it.

When you have done the best you can, let go. Leave the rest to the One whose love and wisdom envelop everything you do.

Accept yourself. Your Maker took delight in the mere idea of you before you even existed.

You are constantly becoming. Honor all that you have been, all that you are, all that you will be.

Stop trying to be perfect. You have everything you need to be who you are supposed to be.

Accept your humanity; youre allowed to stumble.

Accept your divinity; the God within you empowers you to pick yourself up again.

Ignore unfair criticism. Others cant hurt you unless you let them.

Dont try to please everybody. Charity begins at homeplease yourself.

Dont force your good intentions on others. You cant help them unless they want you to.

Befriend your anger. Listenit has much to teach you.

Set the compass of your soul toward forgiveness. It will help you to find your way out of bitterness.

Give others freedom. When you hold them captive to your own wishes, you destroy them.

Trust in God. Gods love prevails throughout every moment of your existence.

When evil seems to be winning over good, remember that creation is not yet finished. You can help to shape creation for good.

Dont disown any part of yourself. What you may consider garbage can be the ground of new life.