How to Accept Yourself

Are you happy with yourself just the way you are? Do you accept yourself with all your shortcomings? Most people don't. For several reasons. Society holds certain standards that by their very nature are almost impossible to live up to. You're supposed to strive for the perfect job. The perfect home. The perfect family. The perfect relationship. The perfect body.

When we compare ourselves to this mythical 'ideal person' - it's no wonder we lack self-acceptance!

We live in a society that demands comparison and contrast and competition. But we'll never measure up to the ideal standards of perfection; the ones set up by the unspoken rules of society. Thus we can never accept ourselves. It's a no-win situation:

Here's the perfect/ideal person

You must compare yourself to this image

Perfection, by definition, is impossible

Therefore, you lose!

What makes it even worse is that we rarely - if ever - question this situation. We've bought into the lie. We accept that we're unacceptable without ever really stopping to evaluate why.

Which is one of the main reasons we stay stuck in our present condition. Because if you don't accept yourself, what will be your motivation for change? Anger? Ridicule? Derision? Self-loathing?

Is that really the fuel you want to use to better yourself?

Guess what? You never end up anywhere in this life. Life is a process. Not a destination. It's not about your 'place' in life - because your place is always changing. Or it should be. It better be. Life is like a river. A never-ending river.

Self-acceptance makes it much easier to grow and change. Why? Because it gives us something positive to push off from. It gives us something solid to stand on as we reach for more.

Admitting who and what you are, strengthens you. By looking for the good, you'll find and create more of it.

Self-acceptance does not come easy. You're up against a lot of negative programming. But reflecting on your accomplishments can be a starting point.