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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Radical Acceptance summary
Tara Brach
Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha
15 mins
Brief summary
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach explores a mindfulness approach to self-acceptance and healing from past traumas. It includes meditations, stories, and tools to help individuals embrace their experiences and find inner peace.
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Radical Acceptance
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Key idea 1 of 6
We live in a trance of inadequacy, and Western culture is to blame.
Have you ever had a dream where you’re desperately trying to do something – climb a hill or outrun a pursuer – but, despite your exertions, you can’t move? You’re working as hard as you can and going absolutely nowhere.
Such dreams are thought to signify that, deep down, the dreamer feels inadequate, as if she’s doomed to fail forever.
It’s no surprise that we feel this way. In fact, we often move through our daily lives in the same preoccupied fashion as we do in these dreams – as flailing protagonists, fixated on a narrow goal that always seems to elude us. Just consider how many of us go through life totally fixated on our efforts to “go somewhere” or achieve something.
Even when engaged in enjoyable activities, like talking with our friends, or reading bedtime stories with our children, we’re often simultaneously replaying our concerns and our plans for the future. Instead of occupying the moment, we’re thinking about where we need to “go” next. But, just like the top of those unclimbable hills in dreamland, the “future” is a phantom location. It will never arrive, and our chase will ultimately have been in vain.
Why do we incessantly worry about where we’re going? Well, thanks to Western culture, many of us feel inadequate – that what we’re doing now isn’t good enough.
Think of Western culture’s central myth – that of Adam and Eve and their banishment from Eden. This story, and its message of original sin, teaches us that people are fundamentally flawed and that they must constantly strive to redeem themselves if they want to regain entry to paradise.
Small wonder, then, that we feel like we’re falling short. From our youngest years, we’re taught that who and where we are isn’t enough.
Luckily for us, this isn’t the only worldview on offer. There’s also Buddhism, which teaches that human beings are naturally loving, wise and compassionate – not flawed or sinful.
The Buddhist worldview is that you’re probably doing just fine as you are. In the next few blinks, we’ll learn about the Buddhist message and how we can apply it to our daily lives.
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What is Radical Acceptance about?
Radical Acceptance (2003) explains how Buddhism and meditation can bring you greater contentment and happiness. Chock-full of easy mental exercises that reduce stress and self-criticism, it’ll give you the tools you need to lead a gentler, happier existence.
Radical Acceptance Review
Radical Acceptance (2003) by Tara Brach explores the transformative power of embracing ourselves and our experiences with compassion. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a compassionate and practical approach to dealing with difficult emotions, helping readers find peace and self-acceptance.
- By combining Buddhist teachings, psychological insights, and personal stories, the book provides a deep understanding of acceptance and its impact on our well-being.
- Through its profound wisdom and exercises for reflection and meditation, the book invites readers to explore their inner selves and cultivate a more loving and authentic life.
Who should read Radical Acceptance?
- Stressed-out people seeking calm
- Meditators and mindful individuals
- Those interested in Buddhism
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Radical Acceptance FAQs
What is the main message of Radical Acceptance?
The main message of Radical Acceptance is to embrace ourselves fully, with kindness and compassion.
How long does it take to read Radical Acceptance?
Reading Radical Acceptance usually takes a few hours, while the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Radical Acceptance a good book? Is it worth reading?
Radical Acceptance is definitely worth reading. It offers powerful insights and practical guidance for cultivating self-compassion and inner peace.
Who is the author of Radical Acceptance?
Tara Brach is the author of Radical Acceptance.
What to read after Radical Acceptance?
If you're wondering what to read next after Radical Acceptance, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
- Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Thoughts Without a Thinker by Mark Epstein
- Radical Compassion by Tara Brach
- How to Do the Work by Nicole LePera
- Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön
- Widen the Window by Elizabeth A. Stanley
- The Art of Positive Thinking by Elizabeth R. Brown
- A Monk's Guide to Happiness by Gelong Thubten