Radical Acceptance Isn’t Passive—It’s the Key to Fierce Effectiveness
I want to stress this: radical acceptance is not passivity, accepting abuse, or conceding defeat without taking constructive action.
On the contrary, you must fully accept whatever exists in this moment—both in the external world and your internal experience—to take the most effective action.
In the thrilling March 27, 2025 game, with 9.8 seconds remaining, Josh Giddey stole LeBron James’ inbound pass, assisting Coby White for a three-pointer, giving the Bulls a 116–115 lead with 6.1 seconds left. The Lakers responded with a layup, taking a 117–116 edge with 3.3 seconds remaining. With no timeouts, Giddey inbounded, received the ball back, and sank a 47-foot buzzer-beater from beyond half-court as time expired, clinching a 119–117 Bulls victory.
Stealing an inbound pass is rare; scoring a game-winning shot from mid-court with 3.3 seconds left is a miracle.
At both 9.8 and 3.3 seconds, Giddey accepted the reality unfolding before him. What if he was blaming teammates for the situation, criticizing himself for earlier mistakes, dwelling on past failures, or fearing the consequences of losing? He likely wouldn’t have noticed the chance to steal the pass or had the clarity to shoot from mid-court.
When facing life’s challenges, big or small, your mindset is crucial. Being non-resistant like water doesn’t mean suppressing or escaping frustration, fear, or negative thoughts. Resisting these emotions wastes mental energy, leaving you unaware of hidden opportunities (like stealing a pass) or unable to seize bold chances (like a mid-court shot).
Radical acceptance aligns with the Tao, like water flowing around a rock instead of forcing through it. If water doesn’t accept the rock’s presence, how can it find a way around?
The speed of your radical acceptance determines your effectiveness in handling challenges—only through acceptance do creative solutions emerge.