Acceptance vs. Struggle

Acceptance has been lauded as a path to inner peace. From the Serenity Prayer in AA to ancient philosophers to Dialectical Behavior Therapy, we have been urged to accept what we cannot change. However, all major change in society since the dawn of time has come with struggle. My parents were at King's speech in Washington about racial equality and marched on the Pentagon to help move the nation toward ending the war in Vietnam.   If we err too greatly on the side of acceptance it is at our own peril.  Balancing what we will accept and struggling to be our best, right wrongs or make the world a better place is a difficult matter. Effort is exhausting and requires periods of rest. Requesting the input and feedback of confidentes and comrades is essential to weighing possible costs and choosing our battles wisely. For the most part our challenges in this arena are more personal. If a boring, mediocre job meets our needs, is it prudent to stay? If a boss is abusive, would filing suit change anything? If a person falls out of love with their partner, should they leave? Cost-benefit analysis can be applied to all these matters, but I believe that we are more than the sum of our cognitions. Denying our "gut" selves and sensate beings leaves us with fewer tools to make these existential and practical decisions. Do we feel deep down that acceptance will mean misery or that we are turning our back on our true selves if it isn't addressed? Perhaps standing up to a mean boss is better than feeling like a coward or victim for an entire career. Do we feel safe enough  to be between jobs for a while to gain a lifetime of contentment? If it is financially responsible this may be worthwhile. Does a person we once trusted now give us the "creeps" or jangle every nerve in our body? It may be wise to slowly take the careful steps to have a life apart from this individual. The parts of self which are deep with us and extremely sensitive at the surface must be combined with our calculating mind to reach the best  conclusions. I once went to a job interview to be a therapist in a prison. I had the usual discomfort associated with a locked setting. However, when the man who would be my boss began asking me questions, my "skin crawled".  This silent alarm only intensified and on the drive home I decided  not to accept the position no matter what. When a guy I once knew said  "you're a smart guy, I have a business to invest in"- my gut told me to flee or fight. Sure enough, he had become involved in a cleaning products pyramid scam.  I am using obvious examples to illustrate what cannot afford to be overlooked for the most holistic decision making. Take stock of your inner voice and your outer reactions. Combine these with thoughtful contemplation to weigh the risks and rewards of accepting one's lot or struggling to improve it.