06|2024
Imagine you are standing in front of a full-length mirror. Naked. You have
been asked to gaze at yourself for two minutes.
Now take a quick inventory of the feelings that were aroused by this
suggestion. Did you feel curious or afraid? Interested or hesitant? Willing or
unwilling? Or did you reject the whole idea as something you would
absolutely never do? Imagining the experience gives you an indication of
your level of self-acceptance; actually doing it will tell you even more.
Self-acceptance is an action; it is something we do, not just something
we feel. To say “I value myself” is an act of self-affirmation that provides a
base from which self-esteem develops.
When we practice self-acceptance we don’t have to condone or even
like everything about ourselves. In fact, it’s almost certain that we won’t.
What it does mean is that we recognize and accept our thoughts, our actions,
our emotions, our bodies, our dreams — everything about us — as our own.
“But I don’t want to be insecure (or afraid or judgmental or angry or
fat or old or alcoholic or any of a dozen other things),” someone might say.
“If I accept that about myself, it means I don’t want to change. Or I won’t
change.”
Here’s the paradox: without acceptance of what is, it is impossible to
change.
When we deny any part of ourselves we name that part alien or
outside. To say, “I don’t want to be _, therefore I won’t accept that
I am,” is self-rejection, the opposite of self-acceptance. To say, “I don’t want
to be , but I am and I am willing to change,” is the kind of self-
acceptance that gives birth to transformation.
Healing and growth can enter only when awareness and acceptance
open the door. According to Nathaniel Branden, author of The Six Pillars of
Self-Esteem, “Nothing does so much for an individual’s self-esteem as
becoming aware of and accepting disowned parts of the self.”
Here’s another exercise: Try on any emotion that is difficult to face —
insecurity, jealousy, anger, fear. Try it on as if it were a sweater or a pair of
shoes. Breathe into it and focus on it; feel your feelings. Notice how, as you
accept and experience it, the feeling begins to melt away.
If you are resisting — tightening your muscles, holding your breath —
accept your resistance. If you deny the resistance, it will only gain in
strength. But, like the feelings themselves, if you embrace the resistance, it
will dissipate.
It’s not only negative feelings or thoughts we sometimes don’t accept;
we refuse our positive sides, too. In fact, some of our bright side can seem
more frightening than the dark. What a loss to refuse to accept our
excitement or joy, our sensuality or our beauty. How sad to be frightened of
our brilliance, our ambition or our dreams.
It has been said that the greatest crime we commit against ourselves is
not that we deny and disown our shortcomings, but that we deny and disown
our greatness.
At its very nadir, self-acceptance is what keeps us alive. It is the
strength that keeps us moving; it is what gives us the courage to finally say
“No!” or “Yes!” It is the hand that reaches out for help.
To be self-accepting is to be for yourself, not against yourself. It is the
birthright of you as an individual and every human being.
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Author’s content used under license, © Claire Communications
