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4 Stages of Acceptance in Relationships

Apart from our blood relations, lots of people come in our life at various stages. As friend, spouse, fellow worker, social groups etc. Some we accept, some we reject and to a few we are neutral. Our decision of accepting a person in our life can be analyzed at 4 stages. These stages are not dependent on each other. However they can be progressive in the sequence as mentioned below. We may accept a person at one stage and when he/she becomes indispensable in our life, we may accept him/her by compromising at other stages. The stages are as follows:

  1. Physical Acceptance: Generally this is the first stage where we analyze and allow a person to enter in our life. It may be physical appearance, qualifications, resumes, his titles, possessions etc. By knowing from others or interacting 1-2 times we take a decision whether we can develop further relationship with that person or not. Many times it can be illusory and false impressions and later we regret.
  2. Psychological Acceptance: This is mostly an emotional attachment we develop with a person. Person’s attitude, behavior and approach make a major impact. When we start accepting the person at this stage, physical appearance starts taking back seat. Qualities, emotional intelligence etc. becomes more important.
  3. Intellectual Acceptance: Intellectual acceptance of person is when our intellect decides quality of person and accepts them to be of our use and we develop relation for mutual benefit. Mostly here we develop professional relationships. We want best doctor, advocate, driver, plumber, electrician etc. Here, we may not have any physical or psychological relationship with that person.
  4. Spiritual Acceptance: Spiritual acceptance requires lot of maturity and in this acceptance one rises above positive and negative characteristics, above caste, creed, gender, color etc. and accept the person as it is without any judgment. Appearance and qualities of person becomes immaterial.
Hemant Lodha

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