“No amount of self-improvement can ever make up for a lack of self-acceptance.” — Robert Holden
Self-acceptance is an essential quality to cultivate if we wish to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Few of us were fortunate enough to be raised in an environment free of unhealthy judgement or criticism—an environment where we were loved unconditionally and accepted just as we were.
When I was a kid, emotions such as anger, sadness or frustration were met with disapproval. I was regularly scolded for not behaving as a ‘good boy’ should.
As open and innocent kids, we inevitably interpret this to mean, “there’s something wrong with me.”
So, for our own self-preservation, we learn to suppress the ‘undesirable’ emotions and behaviours and begin to act as we believe we SHOULD, rather than just being who we are.
We disown the parts of ourselves that get us into trouble and learn to view them as shameful or unacceptable.
Lack of self-acceptance is pretty much universal and one of the main barriers most people face to living a happy and fulfilling life.
Believing we are flawed or broken, we seek to improve ourselves through therapy, training or spiritual practice. We strive to become the acceptable person we believe we ought to be.
But the truth is, no amount of self-improvement will ever be enough, as long as we don’t address the underlying belief that we are unacceptable as we are.
So, how to become more accepting of yourself? How to nurture a healthy sense of self-love?
Here are 7 ideas that might help:
1. Accept Your Inadequacies. Everybody Has Them
Do you feel needy, fearful or insecure at times?
Of course you do.
Imperfection is the human condition. Every one of us is a work in progress. We’re all, as Jean Paul Sartre put it, “spectacularly flawed.”
Self-acceptance comes from:
- recognising that everyone, without exception, is messed up in some way or other (if anyone claims they’re sorted or in charge of their life, they’re kidding themselves!).
- acknowledging and accepting your perceived failings.
- realising that being imperfect isn’t shameful. Having flaws doesn’t make you unworthy.
Stop judging and resisting the things you don’t like about yourself—the things you’re ashamed of. The more you accept them, the freer you become.
Don’t waste energy trying to present a promotional video of yourself to the world.
Come out of the closet. Be real. Be the quirky, imperfect, beautiful and unique being that you really are. The more honest and authentic you are, the freer you become.
Celebrate every part of who you are—the good, the bad and the ugly.
2. Practice Self-Compassion
“Self-compassion starts with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections we don’t even want to look at.” — Pema Chodron
Most of us find it easier to be kind and empathetic towards others than to treat ourselves with love and compassion.
What would you say to a close friend who was feeling fearful or insecure? Or who had made a mistake or a bad decision?
You’d probably say something like, “Stop being so hard on yourself. You’re only human. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody’s perfect”.
You certainly would’t see them as a bad person because they’d made a bad decision. You wouldn’t think there’s something fundamentally wrong with them.
How would you respond to a little kid who is screaming or having a great time throwing lego bricks around the room? You’d understand that he’s just being a kid— just doing what kids do.
Understand that when your inadequacies surface—when you screw up or make a mess of something— that there’s nothing wrong with YOU. You’re just being human. Be kind to yourself.
Your worth is not based on temporary feelings or actions.
3. Bring More Awareness To Your Experience
Learn to step back and watch your thoughts, feelings, emotions, self-judgement and pain objectively—as if you were a curious and compassionate observer.
There’s a great mindfulness practice called the Rain Practice you might find helpful.
As you bring more awareness to the steady flow of thoughts, feelings and emotions that pass through your awareness, let everything be just as it is.
Sit on the riverbank, dispassionately watching the river flow by.
When negative thoughts or feelings come along (as they will), know that it’s OK. It’s just part of what every human experiences.
Don’t give them energy by judging them, don’t push them away, don’t try to turn them into positive thoughts.
Just watch. Acknowledge they are there and let them be. The less you get involved, the more peace you will experience.
4. Forgive Yourself And Others
Recognise that you’ve always done the best you could, given your human-ness, your circumstances and your understanding at the time.
Don’t be like the guy on the long distance train who spends the entire journey carrying his heavy suitcases on his head. Set them down beside you. Or, better still, let go of them altogether.
Past is past. It serves no purpose to carry it around with you.
Can you forgive yourself for your past mistakes or (perceived) shortcomings, just as you might forgive someone else?
Recognise that when your mother projected her own inner pain onto you, or your ex couldn’t give you the love you needed, that they were trying their best too. We all have our inner struggles to contend with.
Journalling is a great tool for letting go of negative judgements. From a place of compassion and self-forgiveness, you may want to write something along these lines:
“I let go of all the guilt and suffering I’m feeling about……. (fill in the blank). I choose to forgive myself and everyone else for what happened. I did the best I could. I’m not going to beat myself up any more over this.”
Click on the image below to grab a FREE copy of my book “Kick The Thinking Habit.”
5. Question Your Beliefs And Assumptions
“An unquestioned mind is the world of suffering.”- Byron Katie
Beliefs and assumptions are topics I go into in detail in my book “Kick The Thinking Habit.” (download it for free above).
So much human suffering is caused through blindly believing what the mind tells us or making unfounded assumptions about ourselves and others.
Get into the habit of questioning EVERYTHING the mind tells you. It’s a bigger liar than Pinocchio!
If you believe, for example, that you are unloveable or that nobody cares about you, ask yourself the following:
“Do I know for absolute certain that this is true?” (the answer will almost always be no).
Look for evidence to support the opposite belief—that people love you.
Do your children love you? Your family? Your friends? Has anyone ever told you you’re great?
Most negative beliefs crumble with just a little scrutiny.
6. Stop Comparing Yourself With Others
Are you in the habit of measuring yourself against others— in terms of looks, popularity, money or success? Are you concerned with how you’re doing in life compared with everyone else?
In our superficial society, where ‘success’ is measured in terms of salary, looks or the car you drive, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves unfavourably with others and concluding that we’re failing in life.
But the truth is, we have no idea what’s going on in anyone else’s life. The guy across the street with the big, flashy BMW could be suffering from chronic stress, anxiety or depression.
“Some people are so poor that all they have is money.” _Patrick Meagher
What constitutes a successful life anyway? I’d put a peaceful mind and an open heart at the top of my list.
Money or looks won’t give you either.
We are all exactly where we are meant to be in life. No matter what you think of yourself, you are special beyond measure—so special that there’s only one of you in the whole universe!
Don’t compare yourself with anyone else. It’s a game you’re never going to win.
Want to learn some simple ways to instantly boost your self-acceptance and inner peace? If you’re happy to jump on a FREE Skype call, I’m happy to share some great tips—no obligation, no strings attached!
Just click on the button below to book a call.
7. Self-Acceptance In the Bigger Picture
Unconditional peace (or full self-acceptance) comes from discovering who we really are— beyond the ever-changing thoughts, feelings and emotions that come and go—beyond the apparently solid person we take ourselves to be.
Your character and personality may well be flawed, but who you are beyond the mind—the unchanging awareness that was present in you as a one-year old and will be there when you are ninety— is pristine, flawless and ever-perfect.
True self-acceptance comes from knowing that, however things appear on the surface level, you are perfectly created—flaws included.
The small, limited ego self will never be fully acceptable. It will always be a work in progress. The real you, the true Self, cannot be improved upon.
How to access this place of unconditional acceptance within?
Regular meditation practice (affiliate link) can help you, over time, break the identification with thoughts and emotions. Your true nature is what remains when the mind is still.
It’s the part of you for which the question of being acceptable or not doesn’t even arise.
What’s your relationship with self-acceptance? Do you often beat yourself up? Are you kind to yourself? Leave a comment below.
And please share the post with your friends and contacts.
Further Reading on Self-Acceptance
What is Self-Acceptance? 25 Exercises, Definition and Quotes
wow, excellent. Very helpful.
Glad you find it helpful 🙂
Nice, simple easy to understand advice. Thank you! Also thank you for the Self-Acceptance Summit information inserted therein, which looks very interesting.
Thanks Susan. Happy you found it helpful! 🙂
I often tell my clients, at the appropriate time, that nothing will wear you out faster or more thoroughly than trying and trying and trying to become something—-that you already are. That last phrase always shocks them, as they were expecting to hear, something you’re not. In other words, it is impossible to “become” worthy when you already are. So the course of wisdom would dictate that one steps off that treadmill and quit trying to reach a destination that one has been inhabiting since they were born.
This is a very good, robust set of techniques for self-acceptance. I will definitely share it as I definitely think we can all use a bit more self-acceptance!!
Thanks Karen. Nice to see you here!
Dear Richard , Very soulful article presented in perfect manner . Joyful to read . Thanks !!! Our ancient Indian scriptures say that “Mind is the only cause of Misery as well as Happiness ” . Once we understand this then our action could be driven not from the mind but from the heart where the Supreme resides . Great article !!! Loved it !!!
Thanks Bharat. I love the Indian scriptures and have been following the teachings of Ramana Maharshi for many years. I usually visit his ashram in TN every year but it has been 2 years since I went due to Covid. Namaste!
Thank you for this, beautifully written and perfect timing! I couldn’t agree more, meditation has been the gateway to so much peace in my life.
Happy to hear it Jennifer!