The biggest misunderstanding about "acceptance" is that it means giving up.

When we talk about accepting reality, people often push back. They fear that if they accept the world exactly as it is, they will end up consigned to the sofa, never striving for change or improvement again.

But true acceptance is actually the starting line for effective action.

It is what the yogic tradition calls Karma Yoga - taking action in the world while releasing your death grip on the outcome. You cannot navigate around an obstacle until you first accept that the obstacle is actually there.

A clip from our Navigation Lab on the cycle of acceptance, intent, and action.