Acceptance is not agreement. You can accept someone—just as they are—without being in agreement.

Acceptance does not mean you like or enjoy something. You can accept a circumstance or situation without liking it, feeling good about it, enjoying it, or wanting it.

Acceptance does not mean that you condone or support whatever it is you’re accepting. It simply means you accept that what is, is. You might prefer it to be different, but you accept that it is what it is. You are not pretending it is something else. You are not resisting. You are not fighting it. You are not trying to control. You are not denying or suppressing or avoiding.

Many people think that accepting someone means agreeing with someone, and since they don’t agree, they refuse to accept.

Good news! You can accept without agreement. So you can accept absolutely anyone. You can accept any situation. Your agreement is not required.