Journey to Self-Acceptance

  So how do we become more self-accepting? At a recent church service, I was reminded that I need to overcome self, because more often than not, I am my greatest giant. I was also reminded to stay true to my talents and passion, know that I was created on purpose, learn to overcome feelings of inadequacies and know what lifts me up and what trips me up. I’ve been on a long journey towards self-acceptance, so this Sunday message was impactful and a welcomed reminder. Self-acceptance is thought to be necessary for good mental health and is defined as an individual's satisfaction or happiness with oneself. Self-acceptance is not about becoming complacent or resigned. It’s about getting over our habit of constantly judging ourselves and adopting a more loving attitude toward ourself.  When we're self-accepting……..

1. We understand our self.
2. We embrace all facets of ourselves, not just the positive, more "esteem-able" parts.
3. We have a realistic awareness of our strengths and weaknesses.
4. We recognize our limitations but this does not interfere with our ability to fully accept ourselves.
5. We have "certified" ourselves and validated our “ok-ness.”

 Many of us are hesitant to be kind to ourselves because we see it as selfish or underserved. So, we must begin the process of self-acceptance with self-examination. The more we understand the reason behind our actions, the more likely we'll be able to excuse ourselves and avoid repeating it in the future. To become more self-accepting……

1. Be intentional. Shift from a world of blame, doubt and shame to a world of acceptance and trust.
2. Let go of guilt. Pardon yourself and cultivate self-compassion. You’ve done the best you possibly could.
3. Learn to forgive yourself. Past regrets can prevent you from practicing self-acceptance. Forgive yourself, and move on.
4. Celebrate your strengths. We are much better collectors of our shortcomings than our strengths. 
5. Create a support system. Distance yourself from people who bring you down. Surround yourself with people who accept you and believe in you.
6. Grieve the loss of unrealized dreams. Reconcile who you are compared to who you idealized yourself to be. Then get back to being the best possible you.
7. Be kind to yourself. Understand that weakness and frailty are part of the human experience, 

 Good news........You can accept and love yourself and still be committed to a lifetime of personal growth. It's only when you stop judging yourself that you can secure a more positive sense of who you are. Your self-esteem will improve naturally when you stop being so hard on yourself. 

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have. 
- Abraham Lincoln

We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light. - Mary Dunbar

 Found value? Feel free to share!!To Your Success,Althea Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSNPromoting inner health & outer beauty!Helping you thrive, not just survive!! PS. Inner Health & Outer Beauty Store: Health & Wellness with Althea♦PPS. Did You Find This Helpful? If so, please feel free to share!! Leave a comment or contact me at althea@altheamcleish.com. Resource:Evolution of the Self By Leon F Seltzer Ph.D.♦Self-esteem and self-acceptance by National Institute of Health♦