Bath Bomb Benefits

Bath Bomb Benefits

By Jini Li
February 17, 2017

Besides the pure enjoyment of soaking in a warm bath accompanied by candle light and the aromatic healing properties of essential oil scents, feeling and watching the animated fizzing of the bath bomb, staring at the explosion of colors and botanicals it releases, and waiting for any potential goodies to drop, there are many benefits to using bath bombs based on their ingredients.

This article covers the properties of two necessary and two common ingredients in bath bombs: citric acid, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), cornstarch and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt).

The two essential ingredients for making bath bombs are citric acid (C6H8O7) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO2), or baking soda. The citric acid causes the sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide (CO2), which forms bubbles and produces the fizzing action for which a good bath bomb is so well-known. The citric acid – sodium bicarbonate ratio in a bath bomb is 1:2, 1 part citric acid to 2 parts sodium bicarbonate. Two additional ingredients, corn starch and Epsom salts, are also commonly used in bath bomb recipes, though the ratios may differ and neither is required.

About Citric Acid

Both citric acid and ascorbic acid occur naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges. Although citric acid is often added to vitamin C supplements, citric acid is not vitamin C. The ascorbic acid content in supplements is the vitamin C. See Notes section for more information about the differences between citric and ascorbic acids.

The great thing about citric acid in a bath is that given time and H2O assistance it can penetrate to the dermis layer of skin where it can perform its wondrous antioxidant and alpha hydroxyl actions on living skin cells. Citric acid gets to work improving the feel and appearance of skin by softening keratin, a protein deposited in skin, hair and nails that is found in the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) and that hardens causing rigidity and roughness that appear as wrinkles. Citric acid softens and lifts dead skin and removes it from pores, leaving them open and ready to receive moisture and nutrients. Citric acid is an alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA). AHAs must penetrate the epidermis to be effective at the level of the underlying layer of skin (the dermis), thereby reducing wrinkles by softening hardened keratin in the epidermal layer and assisting in the production of collagen in the dermal layer of skin.

Citric acid helps your body absorb certain minerals better, such as magnesium. Citric acid is alkaline by nature, and it helps to reduce blood acidity and restore natural pH balance in the body. Citric acid is an antioxidant and a natural cleanser that also helps repair skin and strengthen blood vessels. It bonds to calcium and helps to remove excess calcium from the body. It is recognized for helping to break down kidney stones, which are formed from calcium deposits.

Note: The statement, “citric acid is the same as vitamin C” is false. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C. Citric acid is not nor does it contain ascorbic acid, although both are naturally occurring in citrus fruits. Though similar molecularly, citric and ascorbic acids differ by one oxygen atom. Citric acid (C6H8O7) contains one more oxygen atom than ascorbic acid (C6H8O6). Citric acid is sour, while ascorbic acid is bitter. It is ascorbic acid that keeps fruits and vegetables from browning. Because ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is bitter, citric acid is often used to mask its bitterness in vitamin C. Both Ascorbic acid and citric acid are antioxidants and can be used as preservatives. Ascorbic acid can help prevent deterioration of cells and boosts immunity. Citric acid may cause skin irritation for some people.

About Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)

The second mandatory ingredient of bath bombs is sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO2). Sodium bicarbonate is a salt. It is crystalline in form, but the crystals are small so it looks like a powder. Sodium bicarbonate helps to eliminate chlorine in the water, preventing chlorine in bath water from damaging our skin and hair by stripping them of their natural oils and causing dry skin and brittle hair. Sodium bicarbonate is a naturally occurring mineral and is commonly found dissolved in mineral springs. Its common name is baking soda.

Our skin is our largest organ, and what we put on it will be absorbed. In a bath our skin pores open and sodium bicarbonate gains transdermal admission into the body, where its multiple characteristics begin their healing action. Sodium bicarbonate has been shown to soften and exfoliate skin, clean both skin and hair, and it even encourages hair growth. Sodium bicarbonate is a natural deodorant, so various body odors are neutralized by using it in a bath.

Sodium bicarbonate is fungicide, antiseptic, mild disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, detoxifier and antacid. Using sodium bicarbonate in a bath can help to control fungus growth on feet and nails as well as stunting the growth of candida fungal infections in and on the body. Sodium bicarbonate is an antiseptic and mild disinfectant that helps prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. It is commonly used to treat and relieve skin rashes and burns, including sunburn, and to reduce inflammation. It relieves pain and itching, including the pain and itching associated with insect bites and stings. Sodium bicarbonate absorbs heavy metals and radiation that can otherwise suppress the immune system. Hospitals even use it to cleanse the body of toxins after chemotherapy to reduce the harmful effects caused by radiation in chemo. Using sodium bicarbonate in bath water helps neutralize acids and alkalize the body, thereby improving our immune response. It is the antacid effect of sodium bicarbonate that acts to treat acid indigestion. Sodium bicarbonate detoxifies our blood and lowers blood acidity. By raising alkalinity in the blood, muscle tissues and lungs, sodium bicarbonate helps to relieve many symptoms caused by various forms of acidosis.

There are many other medical uses for sodium bicarbonate that go beyond the scope of this article.

Citric acid and sodium bicarbonate combined with water induces a chemical reaction that causes the sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide (CO2). Heat can assist with the release of carbon dioxide from sodium bicarbonate as well so when you place a bath bomb in heated water, the result is somewhat eruptive and exciting to watch and touch!

About Cornstarch

Cornstarch (C27H48O20) is a complex carbohydrate derived from corn. Using cornstarch in bath has many benefits. It softens skin and soaks up excessive oils from skin and hair. It soothes burns (including sunburn), rashes, itching, poison ivy, cuts and abrasions. Cornstarch kills mildew and can be used to treat athlete’s foot. It is hypoallergenic and is an effective a deodorant. Cornstarch has mild abrasive qualities that help with skin exfoliation.

About Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)

Even though magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), or Epsom salt, has a crystalline structure, it is not an organic salt. It is a chemical compound. As its molecular formula suggests, it contains magnesium, sulfur and oxygen. Naturally occurring magnesium sulfate can be found deposited in various locations with varying chemical structures, such as that of epsomite with a chemical structure of MgSO4·7H2O found in massive encrustation deposits on cavern walls.

Epsom salt in bath water helps to replenish the body’s magnesium and sulfur levels. Both magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) are critical to human health, yet most people have extreme deficiencies in both. Magnesium sulfate in a bath is a very inexpensive and very effective way to remedy deficiencies of magnesium and sulfur. Transmission of magnesium and sulfur via the skin has been shown to be more effective than taking oral supplements, because they are absorbed and used by the body more readily when introduced transdermally in a bath. Using Epsom salt in bathwater creates a reverse osmosis process where toxins are pulled out of the body and magnesium and sulfur are absorbed as valuable nutrients that are key to building healthy brain and nervous tissue, muscles, joints and skin.

Magnesium is required for detoxifying functions in the body as well, including neutralizing overly acidic conditions. A shortage of magnesium in the human body results in hampered biological functions, because magnesium is used by the body for every biological function, the most vital of these being for active detoxification. Magnesium is required for the synthesis of glutathione (C10H17N3O6S) in the human body. Glutathione is an antioxidant the body produces in the liver that picks up and removes heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead.

Magnesium is fundamental for improving the functionality of muscles and nerves. It participates in all human biological functions, and plays a vital role in oxygenation throughout the body. It reduces inflammation and improves blood flow.

Magnesium stimulates in the production of serotonin and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Serotonin is a chemical in the brain known to create a sense of calm and well-being and this is one reason taking a bath with Epsom salts is so relaxing. ATP are packets of energy created by our cells that provide us with energy and stamina.

Note: Magnesium chloride (MgCl2) is another way to administer magnesium to the body, and is usually found in sea water. Magnesium flakes can be used in a bath as an effective way to deliver magnesium to the bloodstream, however it is a more expensive option, and does not offer the sulfur infusion the way magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) does.

Sulfur, like magnesium, assists the body to detoxify. It improves oxygen transfer activities at the cellular level making it easier for the body to transport waste out from the body. Sulfates are required for the build of healthy skin, brain tissue, nervous tissue, muscles and joints. Sulfur deficiency in the body can lead to metabolic impairments and brain functionality. Without enough sulfur, the body can become glucose intolerant resulting in damage to both muscle and fat cells and an inability to process glucose properly. A person who cannot process glucose properly will end up with various painful inflammatory conditions in the muscles and connective tissues, and have difficulty losing weight, resulting in serious weight gain. Sulfur assists with brain functionality. Evidence supports the fact that people suffering from dementia have chronically low levels of sulfur in their blood, and that sulfur can inhibit the progression of dementia where brain damage is minimal.

Epsom salt baths or soaks help you relax, exfoliate the skin, loosen stiff joints, stimulate nerve and muscle function, regulate fluid retention in cells, detoxify by eliminating heavy metals and other harmful substances, nourish the body by the body’s absorption of nutrients, boost the body’s levels of magnesium and sulfate, decrease inflammation and speed the healing of the body after injury by repairing damaged muscles. Epsom salt baths or soaks can be used to treat, prevent or reduce the symptoms of the following, and more:

  • Acidity levels in the blood
  • Arthritis and gout
  • Blood clots
  • Bruises
  • Cancer
  • Chemotherapy (helps the body detoxify after chemotherapy treatments)
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Colds
  • Congestion
  • Constipation
  • Diabetes (by regulating the use of blood sugar)
  • Dandruff
  • Digestive maladies
  • Eczema
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Flu
  • Hardening of the arteries
  • Heart disease
  • Helps you repair damaged muscles
  • Hemorrhoids
  • High blood pressure
  • Inflammation
  • Ingrown toenails
  • Insect stings or bites
  • Insomnia
  • Joint pain and stiff joints
  • Magnesium and sulfur deficiency
  • Migraine headaches
  • Muscle soreness, aches, pains and cramps
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Plantar warts (plantar fascitis)
  • Poison ivy and poison oak
  • Psoriasis (red, itchy, scaly skin)
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Splinters (reduces inflammation and softens the skin)
  • Sprains
  • Stress
  • Stroke
  • Sunburn pain and redness
  • Swelling

It is optimal to wash with soap and rinse well before you fill your tub for a bath. Avoid using soap with Epsom salt, because it can interfere with the detox process and the action of the minerals. After bathing, simply rinse off your body.

NOTICE: If you are new to using Epsom salt in bathing, pay attention to possible skin sensitivity or allergic reactions such as respiratory distress, as these may occur in some individuals. Contradictions include open wounds or burns on your skin, pregnancy and some cardiovascular conditions.

References

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The Power of Thought is the Power to Create

Header image for the power of thought is the power to create postBy Jini Li
February 8, 2017

Everything in life counts. Whether it counts as a positive, a negative or a neutral all depends on our perspective, how we measure things. The power of thought gives us the power to create.

The way we measure things comes from our values, what we think is important. To place a value on or to devalue something, we must make a judgement. We judge things as good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant based on our instincts, our emotions, the neuropathways we have developed, our patterns of thought. The way we see things is influenced by our upbringing, our culture, our education, our experiences, our genetic makeup, and our beliefs.

pink baby shoes on burnt backgroundOur upbringing has given us fundamental perspectives. These may seem remote or even foreign to us when we are trying to figure ourselves out, because we don’t commonly remember our earliest years. In the first three years of our lives, the one hundred billion neurons of the human brain form three hundred trillion connections, and it is interesting to note that tests have suggested that it is social interactions in our early lives that successfully develop learning in the brain (Stephenson, 2017). We often find ourselves thinking about what could have happened in those earliest, formative years and how those things have contributed to the way we are now.

image of textual describers of a culture of peaceOur cultural environment contributes to our development by promoting certain values, behaviors and beliefs through facilitation, while constraining other aspects of how we are through suppression (Chen, 2009). Cultural influences come from family, peers, social groups and general society. Culture has a big influence on self-expression. The freedoms we feel with regards to sharing ourselves with others can be a product of cultural restraints and allowances. In some cultures, speaking up is valued and expressing excitement is welcome, while in other cultures people respect deep, silent contemplation and less dramatic expression. It is not uncommon for people of different cultures to misinterpret gestures and behavior. Greater understanding of others is gained when exposure to different cultural settings is increased.

beautiful children sitting at tables in a kindergarten classrooms ettingOur education and the way our education is viewed has an impact on the way we view ourselves and the way we are treated. Worship of knowledge has caused us to undervalue ignorance. When we feel knowledgeable we tend to ask fewer questions, while when we feel ignorant we are inquisitive. Knowledge gained through book learning alone can make us ignorant indeed, and even cheat us out of valuable learning by causing us to be arrogant and overconfident. Training as opposed to official education, on the other hand, tends to empower us by developing our skills and self-confidence. Self-education is especially effective, because people tend to educate themselves about things they are interested in or for which they have a passion. Interest and passion drive people in ways that coerced education cannot. They drive us to learn through experiencing and shed light on the unknown.

image of a man cliffhangingOur experiences validate or invalidate our opinions. They either confirm or alter our perceptions. Experiences are our guides. They teach us who we are and how we feel. Our experiences root us, expand us and make us grow. Experiences can close or open our minds depending on how we perceive and process them. They push us one way or another, back and forth until we are on track. Courage is the friend of experience. it allows us to reveal ourselves and make connections. It makes us curious and daring. Exposure to more people and more experiences increases awareness, both of ourselves and those around us.

dna segment floating in blood

Our genetic makeup is believed to have a great influence on who we are. In recent years, the study of epigenetics has been fascinating. Epigenetics is the study of how gene expression is changed, even though the gene itself has not been surgically altered. There are numerous studies about the role our thoughts and emotions play in gene expression, and can make us ill or help us heal. You probably have stories of your own about how your outlook changes the way you respond physically.

Our Values & Beliefs

Our values and beliefs play a big role in our decision-making processes. This has been validated by scientific research that has revealed that there is a specific part of the brain that becomes active when people are called to make decisions that involve values and beliefs – the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (also called “ventral medial prefrontal cortex,” or VMPFC). Our beliefs might be stemming from religious, political, social, racial, gender, sexuality or nationalistic belief or other secular systems, but regardless of where they come from, they activate the VMPFC part of the brain (Bond, 2010). This is this same part of the brain that informs our behaviors with regards to rewards and consequences (Wouter Van Den et al., 2009) that assists us to make social decisions.

Our beliefs and values are things we hold dear, and often things we are willing to give our lives to protect. But how are these beliefs developed? How have they been validated by our experiences? Are our beliefs the result of our upbringing, our culture, our education, our experiences, and our genetic makeup? What role do beliefs play in the formation of our perceptions? What makes our perceptions right or wrong? Is there such a thing as right or wrong?

Regardless of what we believe, there is no doubt that our beliefs and where we place our faith, play an important role in our expressions of who we are, who we think we are, and in our happiness. Our beliefs are expressed in our thought processes first, and are then manifested in our behaviors where they become tangible and speak to others.

When we look in the mirror or are mirrored by others, we may see things about ourselves that we judge to be negative, and therefore have the desire to transform. But our life learning and validation have so solidified that our thought processes have resulted in hard habits, habits that are a challenge to change. I would like to invite you to consider that this is exactly where our power of choice comes into play. Can our power of choice be stronger than our engrained habits? I believe so.

Our thoughts become manifested in the world of action in many forms. They are not always obvious to us until we take the time to observe them through meditation, but they reveal themselves in the way we treat each other and the way we decide to spend our time. They show their colors in our values and our opinions. How are our thoughts colored, and what role have we personally played in their development? What role can we play in their creation and can we carve a pathway for them to travel? As discussed earlier, there are a lot of things outside ourselves that have influenced the way we think. In this, we have probably played a very passive position. We have the power within us to change this position and alter our reality, and we can do this through contemplation and active participation in releasing undesired patterns of thought and creating new neuropathways. Those of our own choosing.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

References

Bond, A. (March 1, 2010). Belief in the Brain, sacred and secular ideas engage identical areas. Retrieved from the Scientific American Website: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/belief-in-the-brain/

Chen, X.Y. (June 2009). Culture and Early Socio-Emotional Development. Retrieved from Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development Website: http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/culture/according-experts/culture-and-early-socio-emotional-development

Stephenson, H. (2017). The first year of life. Retrieved from National Geographic Website: http://www.ngllife.com/first-year-life-0

Wouter Van Den, B., and Güroğlu, B. (June 17, 2009). The Role of the Ventral Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Social Decision Making. 29 (24) 7631-7632. Retrieved from the Journal of Neuroscience: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/29/24/7631

Image Citations

Image of the Frontal Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Nature.com from Neuropsychopharmacology January 2007 – Vol 32 No 1 About the Cover image, retrieved from: http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v32/n1/covers/index.html

Egyptian Musk Shea Butter Soap

January 23, 2018
by Jini Li

Demo of Egyptian Musk Shea Butter Soap

I just wanted to share that I have another website for my soap and body product Petals & Pebbles line. I don’t use any artificial coloring agents or fragrances in my products, and all scents are naturally derived from the natural ingredients used, such as shea butter, sweet almond oil, clays, botanicals and essential oils. My friends and family have been my testers over the past 3 years, and often say they want to “eat” my soaps! lol Some have commented about how aroma-therapeutical they are. I love that!

This particular soap contains a combination of essential oils known as Egyptian Musk. It contains Amber Oil (derived from various tree resin extracts), Ambrette Seed (musk seed), Cedar, Frankincense, Myrrh, Patchouli, and Rose Petal essential oils, and Sweet Almond Oil.

This soap also contains Rose Kaolin Clay, a natural, deep cleanser that draws out toxins and impurities from the skin, helping to prevent blemishes and improving circulation. It absorbs excess oil, removes dead skin cells, improves circulation, tones and tightens the skin and creates a healthy glow, leaving the skin feeling smooth and supple.

Raw unrefined shea butter in soap is amazing! It provides you with antibacterial, antimicrobial, fungicidal properties that disinfect along with superb moisturizing properties that are left behind after the saponification process to provide your skin with nourishment and elasticity leaving it smooth and supple. You can feel confident using it for sensitive skin that needs to be disinfected, but is also in need of some gentle loving (sample test first if you have nut allergies!).

More facts about raw (unrefined) shea butter in soap

I’ve added a short video I made demonstrating the Egyptian Musk Shea Butter Soap I have been working on. The results got me so excited, I finally made my first soap video to post on YouTube and Facebook.

If you would like to check out my soaps because they are beautiful and smell awesome and work great, please visit my Petals & Pebbles Soaps and Body Essentials website at petalsandpebbles.com. I wish I could incorporate a sense of smell in the video!

Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed it! Your thoughts would be much appreciated, so please share in the comment section below!

Jini Li

Why Open-Mindedness is Important

Are we all mental prisoners?

By Jini Li
January 16, 2017
Radiant Acquiescence Website - Virtues - Open-Mindedness - Image of a peach shaded rose over a peach shaded sunset over ocean with caption "Open-Mindedness, Why is it Important?"When a person attains the virtue of open-mindedness, they also practice the virtues of acceptance, flexibility, forgiveness, listening, understanding, patience, humility, courtesy, cooperation, observing, trust, trustworthiness, supportiveness, detachment, awareness, honoring, acknowledging and giving. But why is open-mindedness important in and of itself?

Open-mindedness as a virtue is multi-faceted and speaks to a both a person’s internal and external environments. Without open-mindedness, internal conflict can arise and situations can lack meaning and purpose. Practicing open-mindedness is allowing to both yourself and to others.

Open-mindedness permits a person to be self-forgiving, self-trusting, self-supportive and aware. Open-mindedness prevents a person from being self-critical and self-blaming. It prevents guilt from taking root. It opens a person up to a myriad of possibilities. When people are open-minded with themselves, they experience peace of mind and contentment, love and acceptance. Open-mindedness requires people to overcome ego.

Radiant Acquiescence - Virtues - Open-Mindedness - Photo of the backs of two children walking down a road together with sister's arm around siblingOpen-mindedness causes a person to value the opinions of others and to exercise tolerance, if not patience, when listening to or observing another person. The open-minded person can acknowledge that another person’s viewpoint is legitimate – if not from the listener’s perspective, then quite possibly from the speaker’s perspective. They are interested in new ideas and experiences, and do not have a need to insist, to control or to shut out the opinions of others. People with open-mindedness are comfortable allowing ideas to flow freely. With open-mindedness, a person recognizes that to learn, one must assume the humble stance of ignorance. Just as a full room has no space for anything new, occupied mind space has no room for different or new concepts.

When a person is open-minded, they honor the fact that truth is not always immediately apparent, and that understanding may require deeper contemplation. They accept that even though they may not understand something immediately, this does not mean they won’t understand it moments later.

Radiant Acquiescence - Virtues - Open-Mindedness - Photo of person over cliffs with a banner reading "Keep Exploring"An open-minded person waits before they draw conclusions. They try to gain a thorough understanding about everything that pertains to a subject before making deductions. They hold their tongue, and are reluctant to speak poorly of another, because they know there could be information of which they are yet unaware. Information that could change the whole picture.

Open-mindedness creates cohesion between people. It binds people by means of building trust. If you are speaking to a person you recognize as being open-minded, you feel comfortable to speak your mind. You trust that the open-minded person will not misunderstand you or jump to conclusions, because the open-minded person listens with the intent of trying to understand your true meaning.

Open-minded individuals have an ability to remain neutral. They do not take a stance for or against people, ideas or circumstances without due consideration of all factors. They are observant. These people are like a balance. They weigh the pros and cons without being emotionally attached to an outcome. Truly open-minded people do not have expectations one way or another, because they are truly unbiased. They are not colored by love or by hate. Their judgements are not based on favoritism or discrimination.

Radiant Acquiescence - Virtues - Open-Mindedness - Photo of stacked rocks keeping balanceOpen-mindedness is a strength that requires impartiality. Some people might think that impartiality signals a lack of resolution one way or the other. However, it takes a lot of inner strength to speak an unbiased truth knowing that the information may not be what people want to hear. It takes comparable inner strength to let go of something and to stand up for something. An impartial person will be able to see the difference between truth and falsity and recognize when to let go and when to speak up. Letting go may require an admission that one’s opinion is erroneous, and a willingness to reevaluate with new input. This is strength indeed.

Please leave your comments below.

” … man’s social nature … distinguishes him … “

Radiant Acquiescence - Connecting Quotes - picture of Ghandi“It is man’s social nature which distinguishes him from the brute creation. If it is his privilege to be independent, it is equally his duty to be inter-dependent. Only an arrogant man will claim to be independent of everybody else and be self-contained.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

 

The Virtue Acceptance

Go to Examples of Personal Development Page

Learning to Exemplify Self-Acceptance

Acceptance

Radiant Acquiescence Website - Virtues - Acceptance - picture of large body of water with background mountains and sky reflected on the water and the caption Radiant AcquiescenceBy Jini Li, January 13, 2017

When a person has attained the virtue of acceptance, they exercise other virtues, too, like awareness, generosity, consideration, flexibility, forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, supportiveness, understanding, patience, trust, trustworthiness, love and compassion.

Acceptance as a virtue has two environmental facets. One is an acceptance of people; the other is an acceptance of circumstances.

Practicing acceptance with people is synonymous with practicing love. It’s accepting a person regardless of what they have done. When a person practices acceptance of another person, the other person feels acknowledged and adequate. It’s like a boost of confidence and self-assurance. Acceptance builds self-esteem. Acceptance embraces.

Acceptance of circumstances is accomplishable by being able to see things from multiple perspectives, and understanding that there are always aspects that remain unseen. This understanding allows the person peace of mind, and a gentle and generous nature. They are foreseeing and forgiving. They are like a well-rooted tree in a storm, sure and steadfast. They face adversity calmly with avid trust and confidence.

Radiant Acquiescence Website - Virtues - Acquiescence - Photo of waterfallA person who practices acceptance does not waste energy on resistance or fighting. This person sees the end in the beginning, and sees present circumstances as transitional. They see all people as a part of the whole, and every person is equal to the next. Differences do not vex a person who has mastered acceptance. On the contrary, an accepting person appreciates differences. They are undisturbed by happenings in the world and differences in opinion. They understand that truth always rises to the surface. The virtue of acceptance is not synonymous with apathy or indifference. It does not mean that a person does not have an opinion. Rather, it recognizes a time and a place for everything. Acceptance is active, positive energy.

Acceptance is like acquiescence. The summer acquiesces to the fall.  The fall to the winter, and the winter to the spring. Acquiescence is recognition of the transitional, changing nature of all things. It is knowing that everything that happens contains a lesson, however wrong or meaningless it may seem at the time.

Radiant Acquiescence Website - Virtues - Acceptance - picture of autumn trees over water falling over rocks into a pool of water in a creek

Without acceptance, without acquiescence, a person who reluctantly resigns to circumstances and people harbors resentment and impatience. This causes a person to become apathetic and to feel helpless and disappointed. These feelings can fester and come out in different forms, such as passive aggressive behavior.

Acceptance requires perception with freedom from bias, and an ability to see reality and not despise it. In this recognition, people will do what comes natural to them, but without acting forcefully. It can be likened unto a moderator. It neutralizes disdain and counterbalances hate. It balances unstable emotions. It calms.

Practicing acceptance yields the ability to be non-reactive and non-defensive. It causes people to think before they act and consider long-reaching, smarter, more effective and efficient responses to people and circumstances. Acceptance allows things to transpire naturally.

Acceptance disputes denial. It forces us to accept the reality of our situation. It causes us to respond to an unwanted situation with, “Alright. I didn’t want this to happen, but it did. This is where I am now.” Accepting present conditions provides a place from which to move forward.

Acceptance prevents resentment. When a person is unable to accept something or someone, it is often because of a personal preconception. If another person does something that someone has preconceived as being negative, it can cause that someone to begin to feel resentment towards the other person and may even result in aggression. Looking at positive aspects of the person or situation can help turn reluctance to accept into acceptance.

Acceptance encompasses self-acceptance without allowing self-pity or becoming defined by traumatic events. Acceptance helps us move forward from where we are and who we are.

 

” … people who dangle intimacy and then withdraw it …”

Intimate Aromas Website - Intimacy Quotes - photo of E.M. Forster“Was Mrs. Wilcox one of the unsatisfactory people- there are many of them- who dangle intimacy and then withdraw it? They evoke our interests and affections, and keep the life of the spirit dawdling around them. Then they withdraw. When physical passion is involved, there is a definite name for such behaviour- flirting- and if carried far enough, it is punishable by law. But no law- not public opinion, even- punishes those who coquette with friendship, though the dull ache that they inflict, the sense of misdirected effort and exhaustion, may be as intolerable. Was she one of these?”
E.M. Forster, Howards End