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……..
- We understand our self.
- We embrace all facets of ourselves, not just the positive, more “esteem-able” parts.
- We have a realistic awareness of our strengths and weaknesses.
- We recognize our limitations but this does not interfere with our ability to fully accept ourselves.
- 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……
- Be intentional. Shift from a world of blame, doubt and shame to a world of acceptance and trust.
- Let go of guilt. Pardon yourself and cultivate self-compassion. You’ve done the best you possibly could.
- Learn to forgive yourself. Past regrets can prevent you from practicing self-acceptance. Forgive yourself, and move on.
- Celebrate your strengths. We are much better collectors of our shortcomings than our strengths.
- Create a support system. Distance yourself from people who bring you down. Surround yourself with people who accept you and believe in you.
- 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.
- 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, MSN
Promoting 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♦
