Today we're talking about the hard parts of life. What do we do when we experience struggles and trials? Where do we go for comfort and wisdom? How can we help friends who are walking through a difficult season? Join us as Mindy and Julie share some hard things that have been going on in their lives. 

Acceptance by Dr. James Jackson, Psychologist, CIBS Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

A-Acknowledge that your situation may never meaningfully change even though you desperately want it to. 

C-Cut ties with a highly idealized view of the past that makes your current situation seem dire and unacceptable by comparison. 

C-Cultivate an expansive and flexible view of the world and view of yourself that allows for the presence of difficult and unwanted things. 

E-Embrace things as they are-not as you want them to be.

P-Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you grace as you work to learn how to treat yourself with kindness.

T-Try to remember that the struggles that you feel are often temporary and time limited- that though they seem terrifying and real in the moment, they are usually fleeting if you can choose not to overly attend to them and give them power. 

A-As you are able, choose to be vulnerable with others- as people embrace you in all of your glorious "mess", you will learn to embrace yourself as well.

N-Normalize your struggles. 

C-Create a vision for a rich life that can co-exist with difficulties of various kinds, reminding yourself that your whole life can be full right now-that having a life of wholeness and satisfaction is not contingent on the absences of challenges. 

E-Explore the world around you and realize that you are not alone in your struggles-that there are people you love and respect and aspire to be like who are suffering too.

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