Three Ways to Increase Your Self-Acceptance
When we can work to become more self-aware, we begin to create a space for acceptance of our whole selves. These practices can help us move from being stuck in our uncertainty, fear, confusion, or self-judgment, and towards embracing our true nature.
1. Stop resisting the demons
Instead of trying to ignore our painful emotions or bad habits, we can accept they are a part of who we are. Attempting to deny our shortcomings or push away the shadow-parts of ourselves, is often a losing battle.
What if we can sit with who we are and stop our judgement, our need to change or control who we are, our avoiding our true selves? Perhaps we can experience an open and tender attitude towards ourselves. The kind of supportive loving presence we can often share with our friends and loved ones, and less so ourselves. Once we embrace and allow who we are we can often feel more self-love.
2. Listen, and reflect
Think about what is happening in your life. What are your thoughts around this topic? What is the worst part? What is working for you or what can you live with? Follow that with, what am I telling myself about this situation? How do I feel about it and how do I want to feel about it? The easiest way to do this is to pay attention to the sensations in our body and our emotions. From there, we can allow for the reality of our experience while sorting through our perceptions and needs. This often leads to an increased feeling of emotional safety and self-acceptance.
3. Be your true self, remove the mask
Humans are habituated to adapt our personas, to “wear a mask”, to suit certain situations. While this is a natural response, it is an opportunity again for self-awareness and embracing your true nature. What identity do we embrace, at work or at our gym class, for example? How is that serving us or holding us back? Where could we take off the mask and allow ourselves to be more genuine? While our masks can play an important role, they can also diminish our ability to connect and create intimacy in our relationships. Often when we are with pets or young children, we are more authentically our true selves. They can bring out our present moment experience and reflect our true self. What a great opportunity to learn from those that share their innocence and desire for connection with us.
For most of us, self-acceptance will be a lifelong journey. This can be a daunting task or a wonderful chance to continue to create awareness, allow for mistakes, and learn from our experiences. Many tools support this practice including working with a therapist, participating in guided mediations, journaling, and connecting with nature and our loved ones.
May I trust my own goodness. May I see the goodness in others.