Self -acceptance is capable of leading any human being to a healthier and more loving relationship with themselves , but it is a challenging journey. Practice can transform and free people from questions so that they increasingly recognize their qualities, skills and even imperfections.
In a world that often demands perfection and comparison from us, especially with the existence of social networks, it is essential to learn to embrace who we really are. The journey to achieve this may be tortuous, but not impossible. During it, self-esteem, authenticity, personality and, perhaps most importantly, self-love are developed .
To help as many people as possible during this process, We brought tips that will help your journey towards self-acceptance! These are effective practices that will help your relationship with yourself and your mental health . So, shall we go?
What is self-acceptance?
Self-acceptance is a psychological and emotional process in which a person recognizes and embraces themselves as they are, with their qualities, unique characteristics, limitations and imperfections. It involves developing a healthy and loving relationship with yourself, regardless of expectations, comparisons or standards of perfection.
One of its main characteristics involves accepting oneself without harsh judgments or negative criticism, building an attitude of compassion and authenticity in relation to one’s own identity, body, mind and emotions.
It is essential to maintain a continuous process of learning, personal growth and strengthening self-esteem.
Why does self-acceptance seem so difficult?
There are several reasons why it is so challenging to accept yourself. Social expectations are one of the main ones, as society imposes standards of beauty, behavior and success. Reaching these certain standards can be difficult and make people feel increasingly inadequate, making self-acceptance difficult.
Furthermore, self-criticism is constant and one of the most judgmental, causing each person to have a negative view of their attitudes, characteristics and actions.
Another factor that can make self-acceptance difficult is the fear of rejection and the habit of caring too much about what others think. The desire to be accepted and loved can lead people to hide parts of themselves that they consider inadequate, rather than embracing and accepting them.
Self-acceptance is an ongoing process that requires inner work , self-compassion, and awareness. Overcoming these obstacles may take time and effort, but when aligned with clear attitudes and goals, it becomes easier to achieve.
The benefits of self-acceptance
Self-acceptance improves mental, emotional, and physical wellness. We’ve included some of the more important ones below.
Promotes self-confidence and self-esteem
Self -acceptance strengthens your self-confidence and self-esteem . When you recognize and accept your flaws, imperfections and unique characteristics, you free yourself from the need to compare yourself to others. This allows you to focus on your strengths and build on your achievements.
Helps build healthy relationships
Self-acceptance helps you create healthier bonds with friends, partners and family. This is because it helps you attract people who value and accept you as you are. Furthermore, it also allows you to establish healthy boundaries in relationships and avoid toxic or abusive relationships.
Emotional well-being
By accepting yourself, there is less internal conflict and emotional stress . You become more comfortable in your own skin, which leads to greater peace of mind and overall satisfaction with life, letting go of the unrealistic standard of perfection and constant self-criticism.
7 steps to complete happiness
According to nutritionist, self-acceptance needs to be built throughout life: “allow yourself to learn from the mistakes, failures and frustrations that we all have, as self-acceptance is the fundamental ingredient to achieving a light soul, inner peace and a healthy and full body.”
Discover some ways to start working on self-acceptance and increasingly achieve complete happiness.
Know yourself
Know who you are. Explore and seek to understand your characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and values. By getting to know yourself better, you gain clarity about your identity and what is important to you. This allows you to accept yourself and value your qualities more easily.
In the same way that it helps you understand what your limits and biggest challenges are to work better on what you want to develop.
Recognize and accept your own emotions
Self -knowledge is also valid for emotions and feelings. So, always observe how you react to certain situations, try to understand the reasons why something or someone makes you sad, or happy, for example. Take time to notice your inner sensations and feelings.
The important thing is that you are able to identify and name what you feel. And, at the same time, not judge or criticize your own emotions. Remember that all emotions are valid and part of life , so accept them without trying to suppress or deny them.
Forgive yourself
If you’ve hurt people in the past or acted in ways you’re not proud of, forgiving yourself may seem difficult, but it’s essential to the path to self-acceptance. Forgiving yourself does not mean that you approve of your past behavior and attitudes.
Instead, it means that you accept what you did, take responsibility, learn from mistakes, and are allowing yourself to move forward.
Practice self-compassion daily
Self-compassion involves offering yourself love, care, and understanding during difficult times or when you feel excluded from the standards set by society. There are some ways to practice self-compassion that you can include in your daily life. For example:
- Write down how you would like to help yourself;
- Put your situation into perspective;
- To practiceself-care, as meditation, exercise and healthy eating.
Use social media in a healthy way
Remember that social media is a filtered representation of people’s lives and does not always reflect the complete reality. To cultivate self-acceptance, it can be effective to limit the time spent on social media, not compare yourself to others, and unfollow some people.
Focus on building a healthy self-image and self-esteem, independent of external opinions and validation.
Cultivate healthy relationships
Ensure that the people you live with are respectful, empathetic and able to welcome you when necessary. Cultivating healthy relationships is essential to increasingly achieve full happiness. Try to be close to good people at work, in your family and even in your neighborhood.
There’s nothing like family and friends who you can trust and share your deepest thoughts, worries, and moments of happiness.
If you start to see toxic signs in someone, talk and understand the reasons. Explain your view on the matter and hope that the relationship improves. If that doesn’t happen, it’s okay to move away from people who don’t add anything positive to your life or cause you suffering.
Live the present with full attention
Practicing mindfulness in your daily life can strengthen your ability to value yourself exactly as you are, with your imperfections and qualities. This does not mean that you stop evolving and changing positively, but that you allow yourself to be authentic, with compassion and acceptance.
Mindfulness, basically, is a practice to work on the points mentioned above. So, instead of living automatically, always try to consciously observe how you are acting, feeling and communicating , but without judgment or self-criticism.
Generally speaking, self-acceptance is related to happiness, the more you accept yourself, the more happiness you accept and enjoy.