Join Kirk and Friends TONIGHT for "Radical Acceptance" with Warriors for Life (WFL) Online Peer Support Network

Col (Ret) Mikel Burroughs
14 hours ago
3 min read

Come join Volunteer, Peer Support Specialist Kirk Poe for "Awaken Your Inner Healer!" edition of Warriors for Life (WFL) Online, sponsored and presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV).

We are asking everyone to share who we are and what support Victory for Veterans provides via WFL. If you know someone who is a veteran, first responder or a family member/caregiver, please ask them to join us for at least one meeting so they can learn more about what we do and how they can share their wisdom with others who may be able to learn from them.

TONIGHT's Topic: "Radical Acceptance"

Join Kirk and Friends, TONIGHT and let's get together online for the Warriors for Life (WFL) as we talk about "Radical Acceptance"

Radical acceptance is a Dialectrcal Behavior Therapy (DBT) distress tolerance skill that involves fully accepting reality—including painful, uncontrollable, or undesirable situations—with your mind, body, and spirit to stop pain from becoming suffering. It means letting go of bitterness, fighting, and "why me" thoughts, focusing instead on acknowledging "it is what it is" to reduce emotional distress. It is not approval, submissiveness, or apathy, but rather a necessary step toward change.

Key Aspects of Radical Acceptance

Stops Suffering: While pain is inevitable, suffering is often caused by resisting reality; this skill prevents that escalation.
Not Approval: Accepting a situation (like a breakup, loss, or injustice) does not mean you like it or approve of it.
Focus on Reality: It requires accepting the facts of the present moment, even if they are uncomfortable.
Origins: Rooted in Buddhist traditions and popularized by psychologist Marsha Linehan via DBT.

How to Practice Radical Acceptance

Observe Reality: Notice that you are fighting, denying, or resisting a situation.
Acknowledge the Facts: Verbally or mentally state the facts ("It is raining," "I lost my job") without judgmental labels.
Release Resistance: Accept that the present moment is a result of past causes and cannot be changed.
Use Body Language: Adopt a "willing" posture (e.g., open hands, relaxed face) to signal acceptance to your brain.
Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge your feelings without being consumed by them.

When to Use It

When you are stuck in anger, blame, or ruminating over past events.
When facing situations outside your control (e.g., grief, traffic, unavoidable change).
To create space for healing and to make better decisions for future changes.

Radical Acceptance improves mental health by reducing suffering, anxiety, and emotional pain caused by fighting uncontrollable, painful realities. It fosters emotional regulation, resilience, and self-compassion by allowing individuals to accept the present moment without judgment. This practice helps break cycles of bitterness and anger, allowing for clearer thinking and improved, healthier relationships.

Key Mental Health Impacts

Reduced Emotional Distress: By stopping the mental struggle against reality, individuals experience less frustration, anger, and sadness.
Lowered Anxiety and Shame: It decreases, rather than increases, negative emotions like shame and guilt.
Increased Resilience: Accepting difficult situations helps individuals bounce back and cope more effectively with life's challenges.
Improved Emotional Regulation: It aids in managing intense, difficult emotions by fostering a, "it is what it is," mindset.
Greater Self-Compassion: It encourages a more loving and accepting relationship with oneself.

12 Steps of Radical Acceptance

How It Works

Shifts Focus: It moves attention from agonizing over "why" something happened to accepting "what" is happening, allowing for better decision-making.
Reduces Suffering: It distinguishes between pain (inevitable) and suffering (caused by resisting pain).
Promotes Mindfulness: It encourages living in the moment, rather than wasting energy wishing for a different past or future.

Warriors for Life (WFL) Online "Awaken Your Inner Healer!" edition presented by Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV) - Monday (TONIGHT), January 26, 2026 @ 4:30 PM PT, 5:30 PM MT, 6:30 PM CT, & 7:30 PM ET

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86121340012

Thank you,

Kirk Poe, Certified Peer Support Specialist, Reiki Master, Certified Body/Emotion/Belief Code Practitioner, & Volunteer Facilitator, Victory for Veterans, Inc. (VFV)