The way out of our cage begins with accepting absolutely everything we are feeling about ourselves and our lives, by embracing with wakefulness and care our moment-to-moment experience. By accepting absolutely everything, what I mean is that we are aware of what is happening within our body and mind in any given moment, without trying to control or judge or pull away. I do not mean that we are putting up with harmful behavior—our own or another’s. Nor do I mean that we are confirming the truth of a negative belief, such as “I am a loser.”
Rather, this is an inner process of accepting our actual, present-moment experience. It means feeling sorrow and pain without resisting. It means feeling desire or dislike for someone or something without judging ourselves for the feeling or being driven to act on it. — Tara Brach (read the rest here)
More posts that feature Tara Brach on this blog:
● Our ideas are not truth: a little (funny) dharma lesson
● Gossip Demeans Ourselves and Others
I found both the below book and guided meditations greatly inspiring. These are excellent introductory materials that can apply to anyone regardless of whether one is drawn to Buddhism. Tara Brach is also a psychologist and draws from her practice when sharing her thoughts in the book.
● Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha
(paperback)
● Radical Acceptance: Guided Meditations
(audio CD)
Everything matters 
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