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Notice what is
Accept what flows
Peace lives here
-安天美
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To notice what is means stepping into raw reality without trying to change it. It's looking at our limited energy, our finite time, the choices of others, and the state of the world with clear eyes. Not turning away from what hurts, not forcing optimism, but simply acknowledging: this is what is here now. This noticing isn't passive - it's an act of profound courage.
Each morning brings an opportunity to practice this noticing. Perhaps today you wake with less energy than your schedule demands. Instead of pushing against this reality, you might pause and acknowledge it: "This is the energy I have today." This simple act of noticing creates space for wisdom. When plans shift unexpectedly, when someone's choices disappoint you, when world events weigh heavy on your heart - these are all moments to practice clear seeing.
Acceptance isn't resignation. When we accept what flows, we're acknowledging that life moves whether we resist it or not. Other people will make choices we don't understand - a friend choosing a path that seems wrong to us, a loved one not being ready for change when we are. Our own capacity will fluctuate, some days flowing strong and clear, other days moving slow and quiet.
Consider how water moves around obstacles, not because it's weak, but because it knows its nature. When we accept the flow of life, we begin to move with similar wisdom. We learn to recognise that our friend's journey belongs to them, that our body's need for rest is not a failure but information, that projects may take longer than we hoped because that's what they need.
Peace isn't something we achieve - it lives in the space we create when we stop fighting what is. It's present in the exhale after acknowledging our limits, in the quiet moment when we realise we don't have to fix everything. This peace emerges naturally when we stop carrying what isn't ours to carry.
Think of peace as a constant companion, always present beneath our struggles. When we feel overwhelmed by the world's pain, we can remind ourselves that caring deeply doesn't mean we must carry it all. When we judge ourselves for not meeting impossible standards, we can remember that doing our best with what we have is enough. Peace lives in these gentle acknowledgments.
This acceptance becomes a living practice. It begins with the morning light, as we greet our actual capacity rather than our ideal one. We might create what I call a "capacity calendar," scheduling our day based on our real energy rather than our hoped-for energy. Throughout the day, we practice what I think of as "peace pauses" - brief moments where we stop to acknowledge reality exactly as it is.
As we move through our days, we learn to distinguish between what's ours to carry and what isn't. We might notice ourselves tensing against a situation we can't control - perhaps a global event, a loved one's struggle, or a circumstance beyond our influence. In these moments, we can practice what I call the "gentle release" - acknowledging our care while letting go of the weight of responsibility that isn't ours.
The evening brings its own invitation to practice. As the day settles, we might reflect on what we're still fighting, what we can release. This isn't about forcing ourselves to let go, but about creating space to notice where we're holding on unnecessarily. Sometimes acceptance comes in waves - we accept, then resist, then accept again. This too is part of the practice.
Acceptance teaches us that we don't have to understand everything to be at peace with it. Your capacity will vary, and that's natural. Other people's choices belong to them. The world's pain isn't yours alone to carry. Peace comes from meeting reality as it is, moment by moment, breath by breath.
When you find yourself resisting - and you will, for that too is part of being human - remember that acceptance isn't a destination but a returning. Each moment offers a new chance to notice what is, to accept what flows, to remember that peace lives here, in this very moment, exactly as it is.
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Affirmation
“I will not stress about things I cannot control
I will not rush things that are taking longer than I expect
Everything will unfold in it’s timing and I accept that”
-@lifewithdoctormom
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<aside> <img src="/icons/backward_blue.svg" alt="/icons/backward_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Alchemy of Optimism
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<aside> <img src="/icons/forward_blue.svg" alt="/icons/forward_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Healing Pain
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These practices work together, supporting each other throughout our days. The Capacity Calendar helps us start with truth, Peace Pauses help us return to truth, and the Gentle Release helps us honour truth by letting go of what isn't ours. Together, they create a framework for living in deeper acceptance of what is.