💌 what in your life are you struggling to accept?

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Welcome to my imperfect email.

As always, every week, we’ll send a question that will help you reflect on your own imperfect life, inspired by this week’s episode.

Quick! Is anyone here a doctor?

Dr Emily is back, baby, for 2026 (cue an outrageous amount of cheering).

And this week she’s talking about radical acceptance; what it is, how you can cultivate it, and why it might just change your life.

Stay rad, stay cool,

Bell

Bell Northeast

what in your life are you struggling to accept?

Listing the things you are struggling to accept can help begin the process of acceptance.

We'd love to hear your answer to this question. If you're in the mood to get vulnerable and share your writing, send it through.

Send in your answer

Acceptance, That’s Radical

With Dr Emily Musgrove

Pain is inevitable, but suffering does not have to be.

Dr Emily Musgrove, our resident psychologist and general provider of wisdom, is here to talk about radical acceptance.

Drawing inspiration from our holy grail episode with Gina Chick, Dr Em deep dives radical acceptance; what is it, how do we cultivate it, and why is it important to us as human beings?

According to Dr Em, radical acceptance is not about liking or accepting (insert profanity here) situations or circumstances, or denying an experience, but rather, accepting the pain inside of us to avoid the reaction of suffering.

Instead of feeling better, it’s about finding a better way of feeling.

For Hugh, the concept of radical acceptance really hits close to home, and he reflects on how it has changed his life insurmountably.

Watch now

For right now

Notice the second arrow. (8:56 - 9:49)

In the retelling of a Buddhist parable, Dr Emily describes how the first arrow represents pain (unavoidable and uncontrollable), however the second arrow, which is suffering, is caused by your reaction to the first arrow. Noticing the second arrow can alleviate your suffering.

For this week

Let the feeling in. (29:15 - 30:30)

Dr Emily shares The Guest House poem by Rumi which illustrates the importance of inviting in your feelings and living alongside them rather than against them.

For this season of your life

Feel the rain on your skin. (1:10:17) + (1:05:56 - 1:08:31)

_{An acronym from Tara Brach which may help you to begin the process of radical acceptance.}

_R_ecognise

_A_llow

_I_nvestigate

_N_urture

_{On her YouTube, Tara also provides guided meditations.}

_{While we're on the theme of rain, this banger of a music video encapsulates how Hugh felt choosing to move his body despite bad weather, finding agency and choice despite the things he couldn’t control that were causing pain. (1:05:56 - 1:08:31).}

Want to know what you value? Our very own psychologist, Dr Emily has created a simple guide to help you uncover your values.

And because we value you so much, we’re going to give it to you for free.*

*All you have to do is share this newsletter with just one other person.

As soon as they sign up, you’ll get the worksheet straight in your inbox.

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Or send them your unique signup link: {{rp_refer_url}}

when was a time you genuinely needed help and were you able to ask for it?

I entered a new relationship in the second half of 2024, and with it came a wave of anxiety I didn’t know I was carrying. I had all the tools: meditation, exercise, therapy, deeply supportive friends and family, and a partner who would show up when I needed him to. I thought I just needed time.

I turned 30 last April, which unexpectedly shook me. A month later, I was made redundant along with my whole department. It felt like the straw that broke the camel’s back. I went to Greece to visit my sister, which seemed like a good idea at the time, and tipped into constant panic.

Everything felt like too much. I couldn’t sit still. I tried to function as my usual high-capacity self, but I could only manage a fraction of what I used to. Bron spoke about how frightening it is when you know yourself to function a certain way and suddenly you can’t.

I’ve never dismissed psychological medication, but I always believed I could manage my mental health on my own. I eat well. I exercise. I practise yoga and meditation. I have an abundant, loving life.

Starting medication was asking for help in a new way. It steadied my nervous system enough for me to feel like myself again.

Since then, I’ve stepped into work I’m engaged in, launched a business, moved in with my partner, and planned a trip to Japan.

Sometimes support looks different to what we expect. For me, it included medication, alongside everything else, and I’m very grateful I allowed myself that help.

Sonja

Thank you so much for sharing your reflection with us, and with all of you! Always vulnerable responsibly.

Did someone say DOUBLE EM?!?!

You betcha.

This week on A Little More Imperfects, we reveal something which might just make your 2026 a little bit sweeter.

In addition to her 8 episode on the main feed, Dr Emily Musgrove will be joining A Little More Imperfects FOR 8 MORE EPISODES.

Hurrah!

This week, we’re talking World Overwhelm.

Based off questions from our ALMI subscribers, Dr Em talks Hugh, Ryan and Josh through how to keep yourself sustainably engaged when it feels like the world is a dumpster fire of awfulness.