7 Ways to Cultivate Self-Acceptance!
The other day I was planning my yoga class and a theme popped into my head. I heard the word “acceptance” then more specifically “self-acceptance”.
For reasons unknown to me, I felt compelled to search for the meaning of this word. The following definition led to further thinking “Acceptance: the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group.”
WOW! Being received as adequate or suitable?!? Before I knew it, I started to think about the times I looked for the approval of others in order to feel better about myself.
The more I thought about it the more I realized that most of the time we are the ones that need to accept ourselves, to begin with. If we are constantly judging ourselves based on external things or based on what other people think, how will we ever be able to see our self-worth? Worst yet, if we don’t accept ourselves, how can we expect others to accept us?
Acceptance doesn’t mean to settle, to give up or not to care about others’ constructive feedback. It doesn’t mean either that you need to agree with everyone at all times.
“Acceptance allows change. The ‘acceptance mode’ includes everything, even my judgments. It allows me to be okay now, even before I reach my goals.” Mandy Evans
That is when self-acceptance comes in. If you love and accept yourself, others will too.
Self-Acceptance
Self-acceptance is an invitation to stop trying to change yourself into the person you think you should be and embrace yourself as who you really are.
You don’t need someone to complete you. You only need someone to accept you completely and that someone is YOU!
How can we begin to travel the path of self-acceptance?
7 Ways to Embrace Your Life Through Self-Acceptance
- Cultivate Self-Compassion.
- Let go of guilt.
- Learn to forgive yourself.
- Start journaling and write your thoughts about yourself. Identify what your strengths are, what physical characteristics you like, your personality traits, your gifts, and talents.
- Identify the aspects of yourself that you accept the least. Notice what comes up? Is this a reflection of what you think is acceptable or not in the eyes of others? If you see these characteristics in others what would you do? Would you be as harsh on them as you are on yourself? What would it feel like to accept yourself even if others don’t?
- Bring love and compassion to those parts of you that you think are less appealing. See yourself as a younger version or even a childlike version of the younger you. What would you say to this child? Be open to love and accept your WHOLE SELF not just parts of yourself.
- Read inspirational quotes that remind you of what you are working on.
“When you begin to accept yourself the way you are right now, you begin a new life with new possibilities that did not exist before…” Mandy Evans
Self-acceptance is about loving and being happy with yourself right now, at this moment.
Start with the present moment
Once you begin to love and be happy with whom you are at this moment; when you start seeing strengths and talents you possess; and you let go of guilt, Self-acceptance will begin to flourish and soon enough you will attract the people in your life that ACCEPT YOU completely for who you are.
In my Enlighted Alchemy Program, I work with women to increase their self-esteem and self-worth so feel empowered and connected. To learn more about the Enlighted Alchemy Program, CLICK HERE.
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