I wrote this article to clarify the true meaning of “acceptance.” A few days ago, I came across a video in which the creator shared personal insights on this topic. However, it quickly became clear that she had confused “acceptance” with “resignation,” leading to many misleading statements. Fortunately, most people in the comments seemed to understand what acceptance really means. Yet, their tone also revealed how the creator’s titles and credentials had made them second-guess their own understanding.
Acceptance means seeing things as they truly are in the present moment. It’s about embracing each moment fully, with openness and awareness, allowing emotions and thoughts to arise without imposing preconceived ideas of how things should be.
This concept of acceptance is meant precisely for such moments. We often waste immense energy resisting the reality that already exists, trying to reshape the present to match our expectations—only to create more tension and hinder healing and positive change.
Therefore, the act of “acceptance” only occurs in the absolute present moment and applies solely to that exact moment—it is an instantaneous concept.
While a continuous state may arise from the linking of many individual moments, acceptance itself is not a continuous action. For example: “I accept my pain right now,” “I accept the heat of this moment,” “I accept the now that holds my past,” “I accept the now that may lead to all possible futures.”
On the other hand, “resignation” is a continuous mindset. It spans the past and the future and is more of an overarching attitude. People new to mindfulness often confuse the two terms, possibly because “resignation” is more familiar in everyday life, whereas “acceptance” in the mindfulness sense is a new concept.
In fact, the two words can even be seen as opposites in meaning.
In this present moment:
Acceptance is the conscious, non-judgmental acknowledgment of reality. In contrast, resignation is a passive surrender, rooted in the belief that nothing can—or should—change. Resignation involves constant judgment: a judgment that things are unchangeable.
The core of acceptance is “seeing the truth, without being bound by it.”
The core of resignation is “believing the outcome is fixed, and ceasing to try.”
Acceptance is the prerequisite for transformation—all change begins with acceptance of our true self, here and now. Only when we truly see the current situation can we take actions in the present moment that are beneficial to life. So, in the following moment:
Once we accept the present reality, we can actively choose how to respond: we can let anger erupt, we can devise long-term strategies, or we can choose patience or retreat. Whatever we choose, it is an honest and responsible act toward our lives.
In contrast, resignation sees no point in acting at all, because it assumes the outcome is already sealed.
Therefore, acceptance and resignation are fundamentally different. I hope this article helps you better understand the concept and encourages a more accurate interpretation—so we can help others grow as well.
