Frustration ... Acceptance

Frustration leads to suffering.
Acceptance leads to peace.
Existentially.

Let me break that down.

I used to get really frustrated when I had migraines. Sometimes, I still do. I'm human. That frustration at having the migraines led to the suffering from the pain.

You can be in pain and not suffer.

I have been in pain and not suffered.

The secret, not-so-secret-secret, is to not resist the pain and therefore not get frustrated and just radically accept that yes, there is going to be pain, now how am I going to deal with it?

Am I going to rest, and let my body have a break?

Am I going to take some medication to assist my body in getting through the time?

Am I going to use ice or heat to reduce the pain?

All of those things require acknowledging that I am in pain an accepting that it is happening.

Pushing through the pain, creating more pain, and making things worse leads to frustration.

Frustration from not being able to do what I want when I want.

Frustration from my body being not as strong as I want in the moment.

Frustration from not accepting life as it is.

That's the simple definition of radical acceptance.

I'm human, so it's a continual lesson. I do learn it again when frustration sneaks in.

Acceptance is self-care.