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Acceptance and gratitude are two common concepts in popular psychology. They can be presented in unhelpfully simplistic ways.
Unconsidered acceptance can be mistaken with acquiescence. We can become a doormat lacking our own point of view. It can erode our personal boundaries. The result is a loss of self (which provides important grounding necessary to our continua wellbeing). Over time, we can become powerless and more susceptible to manipulation. Sometimes, non-acceptance (leading to actions to enact change) can be the right thing to do.
Rushing to gratitude can hinder our growth. Instead of processing our responses to a non-optimal situation, focusing on gratitude (and forgiveness) can cause us to discount our emotional reactions, and to stuff these away without dealing with them. Genuine growth is not possible if we deny and suppress our hurts. Over time, this focus on gratitude can become disenfranchising. It closes the door to self understanding and transformation change. Sometimes, gratitude must wait.
