August, 2026
August is a month of endings and beginnings. Children begrudgingly say goodbye to summer vacation and prepare for a new school year, while some parents send college-bound sons and daughters off to begin their next chapter. Both are adjusting to new realities. For many, these transitional periods, the time between one event ending and another beginning, are some of the most difficult people must navigate. Some people seek therapy because of the stress these moments bring. However, other people experience distress when they resist change, either by denying that it is happening or by struggling to maintain the status quo.
Understanding Radical Acceptance
Radical Acceptance is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy skill developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan that encourages individuals to acknowledge the following truths:
Some change is unavoidable and with change often comes pain or discomfort.
By resisting or refusing to accept reality for what it is, individuals expend their energy and increase their suffering.
Individuals can accept that reality is the way that it is without agreeing to it, liking it, or approving it.
Individuals can accept that circumstances are what they are and still work toward improving those circumstances.
Embracing Radical Acceptance does not mean that people have to ignore their feelings. In fact, acknowledging difficult emotions and allowing yourself to experience them is an important part of accepting reality.
Radical Acceptance in Practice
A child starting at a new school, an adolescent fighting with her peers, or an adult who recently lost a close family member are each facing their own transition. Naturally, some will struggle to accept those transitions. These individuals may choose to focus on distressing thoughts like, “Why me?” or “What could I have done differently?” Focusing on these kinds of thoughts often leads to further suffering. Although each situation is different, Radical Acceptance begins in the same way: by acknowledging the facts, their feelings, and determining the most effective way to move forward.
For example, the adult who lost a close family member might tell herself, “What I am experiencing is difficult, and there is no reason to feel ashamed. I’m grieving and I wish that I could avoid feeling this way, but I can’t. All I can do at this moment is feel the grief and move forward by learning to live in the new reality.”
Radical Acceptance in Your Life
Is there anything that you are struggling to accept in your life and do you feel like you could benefit from learning coping skills, like Radical Acceptance? Embracing difficult emotions and facts is hard, but you can ease your suffering through acknowledgement and grace. You also never have to do it alone. If this article resonated with you and you believe that you would benefit from learning other coping skills, please fill out a contact form on our website. We would love to connect you to resources to begin you on your journey to Radical Acceptance.