Family Troubles

Family Troubles

Replay of Radical Acceptance

The Freedom of Letting Go

Joshua Coleman, Ph.D.'s avatar
Joshua Coleman, Ph.D.
Sep 12, 2025
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I hope today was helpful!

Radical Acceptance: The Freedom of Letting Go

woman spreading hair at during sunset
Photo by Aditya Saxena on Unsplash

Meanwhile here’s a summary of radical acceptance that you might find useful:

1. Naming the Reality

“I don’t want this estrangement, but right now it exists. Pretending otherwise only adds to my pain.”

2. Separating Fact from Judgment

“My child isn’t speaking to me right now. That is the fact. Saying ‘they shouldn’t be doing this’ is my judgment, not the reality.”

3. Accepting What You Can’t Control

“I’ve apologized, taken responsibility, and reached out. Whether my child responds is not in my control.”

4. Allowing Grief Without Fighting It

“I feel devastated today. Instead of pushing it away, I can let myself feel sad without making it mean I’ll feel this way forever.”

5. Recognizing Your Limits

. My worth doesn’t depend on my child’s current opinion.”

6. Making Peace With the Present Moment

“Right now, in this moment, I am safe. Even though my family feels broken, I can still breathe, walk, rest, and connect with other people who love me.”

7. Accepting Complexity

“I know I am more than my worst mistakes. Both truths can coexist.”

8. Releasing the Fantasy of Control

“No amount of replaying old conversations will rewrite the past. I can stop the mental torture of ‘if only I had said this’ and instead face what is.”

9. Choosing Self-Compassion

“I can accept that my child’s choice doesn’t erase my love, my efforts, or the good I brought to their life.”

10. Trusting That Acceptance Brings Strength

“Acceptance isn’t the end of the story. It’s what allows me to show up with dignity, patience, and steadiness—qualities my child might one day see more clearly.”

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