I DO UNDERSTAND. I DO ACCEPT. I DON’T AGREE.

I DO UNDERSTAND. I DO ACCEPT. I DON’T AGREE.

My understanding of your point of view nor acceptance of it and your right to that point of view, doesn’t mean that I agree with your point of view. It simply means I understand, and I accept. No other action is required of me if I don’t agree. But the same is true for the other party – understand that I don’t agree, accept that I don’t agree, and no other action is required. We have reached a place of mutual understanding. Neither of us is the villain. Both of us are free to make the choice of what to do beyond taking the time to understand and accept the other. Both are validated by the listening and hearing cycle. This is such an easy concept intellectually. This is so difficult to practice.

One need look no farther than having an interaction with a child or an adult who acts like a child. The child wants and expresses the desire to continue to play when it is time for dinner. The parent understands the desire. The parent accepts that this is a perfectly normal reaction for a child engaged in play. However, the parent has the choice to agree or disagree based upon their knowledge, experience, and the overall goal of family life. Unless you are around an exceptionally enlightened child, pushback is expected and begins with, “But I want…”

I understand what my body and spirit needs. Both have shown me time after time. Books and videos and trainers have verified the validity of what the human body needs to operate optimally. I accept the information. I agree with most of it, “But I…” push back not so much verbally but with my actions. Oh yes, I understand, I accept but my disagreement is illustrated by lack of action or the continuation of less than productive habits.

I don’t throw a tantrum nor does the body or spirit. Both continue to do what they do with an understanding that I have a right to my choices. I continue to make good and bad choices until I agree with them and respond in a way that supports my best interest. Most often that happens when circumstances dictate that a change occurs and my choices are limited, doesn’t it? How else can I make sense of the fact that I eat and drink too much of the wrong things, don’t have good sleep hygiene, am more likely to be judgmental and unforgiving than merciful and so on and so forth?

Romans 7:15-16

PONDER THIS THOUGHT---John Ruskin said, “What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.”