Self-acceptance is the ability to accept your positive and negative attributes. It allows you to believe in your capabilities and protect yourself from negative criticism. With self-acceptance, you feel safe being yourself and expressing yourself in ways that make sense and feel good for you.
Myths of Self-AcceptanceÂ
Believing certain myths about self-acceptance can prevent you from integrating the practice of radical acceptance into your life. Not believing such myths can help release perfectionist attitudes as well. For example, some may think that accepting oneself means that they will not evolve or will become lazy. However, these are the very falsehoods that can keep us stuck in cycles of shame, self-sabotage, and fear of never being good enough.
Believing You Are Already Enough
Genuine and sustainable development begins with knowing that even if you did not change or reach the goals you set for yourself, you are still good enough. Self-acceptance allows you to create change for yourself, knowing that you deserve to evolve rather than comparing yourself with others, causing a sense of guilt or shame.
What Do You Actually Want?Â
Perhaps you have found yourself thinking that you should be more like other people. This could be in relation to your job, your health, or even your relationships. However, instead of comparing yourself to others when making decisions in your life, it is essential to ask yourself the following questions:
- “What changes am I forcing in my life because I think I should be more like someone else?”
- “What do I actually want?”
Being aware of how you truly want to be and feel in your life is only possible with self-acceptance. This means accepting who you are, including your desires, even though they may seem different than what others want.
Beginning therapeutic treatment is a great way to begin to learn about yourself and accept yourself for who you are.
Self-acceptance is often the missing ingredient when beginning a healing journey of any type. The absence of self-acceptance can lead to unwanted stress and anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed or stuck. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize how integral healing your relationship with yourself is to experiencing holistic wellness and reaching your goals. Whether through individual therapy, group therapy, or another one of our treatment options, we can help you get on the right track. You will also be among professionals and peers that support a safe and secure environment. To learn more, call us today at (844) 857-5992.
