Radical Acceptance

We can change ourselves if and only if we accept ourselves exactly as we are: with all our positive and negative traits. Moreover, this acceptance must be unconditional.

The conviction that something is wrong with us is a deep and unrelenting suffering, says Tara Brach in this enlightening book. This suffering manifests in paralyzing self-criticism and conflicts in our relationships, in addiction and perfectionism, in loneliness and work to the point of total exhaustion—all factors that limit our lives and prevent us from living them to the fullest. Radical Acceptance offers a path to freedom, including practical guidance for daily life developed through Dr. Brach’s twenty years of work as a psychotherapist and Buddhist meditation teacher.

Writing with great warmth and utmost clarity, Tara Brach brings her messages to life through personal stories and clinical case studies, original interpretations of Buddhist parables, and guided meditations. Step by step, she leads us toward trusting our innate goodness, showing us how to develop the balance between clear seeing and compassion, which is the essence of radical acceptance. This does not mean falling into complacency or passivity. Instead, it enables true change: healing fear and shame and helping to build loving, authentic relationships. When we stop being at war with ourselves, we are free to fully experience every precious moment of our lives.

“Radical Acceptance invites us to embrace ourselves with all our pain, fear, and anxieties, and to step lightly yet firmly onto the path of understanding and compassion.” Thich Nhat Hanh