The meaning of acceptance (Thum-jai) in Thai people: Letting it go…so life goes on.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the meaning of acceptance (Thum-jai) as a culturally embedded coping strategy in the lives of Thai people who have experienced adversity that caused suffering. Thematic analysis was used to examine the responses of 47 participants to written, open-ended questions or face-to-face interviews. The EQUATOR's COREQ checklist for qualitative research was followed. Participants came from diverse religious' traditions and geographic regions throughout Thailand. Findings revealed seven themes: circumstance and emotion; thought and action; time, experience, and effort; social and moral support; religious and spiritual ethos; acceptance and hope; and survive and thrive. The adverse circumstance is central to the concept of acceptance. Before acceptance, there is often hope; yet Thai people reach an existential point whether to accept the reality of the situation or continue in distress. Purposeful approaches to deal with the event flow from the cultural contexts of spirituality and social support. Drawing upon psychological strength, Thai people undertake purposive thought and action to facilitate redirecting their lives for better mental health. Thum-jai brings release and peace of mind. Clinicians may find that people experiencing adverse life events are best served by nondirective approaches. Acceptance and change in thoughts and behaviours may come from meditation and therapeutic mindfulness practices that allow those in Western and non-Western cultures to use their own values, expressions, and societal expectations to cope with suffering and formulate effective decisions.