Love Yourself Series #1: Self-Acceptance

The core of living a happy life is loving yourself first.

Most of us are growing up in a generation where social comparison is at the highest it has ever been. A research study by the UK from the Royal Society for Public Health found that social media sites, such as Instagram and Snapchat, produce a negative contribution to the mental health of young people aged 14-24.

Since the age of fourteen I have found self-acceptance to be challenging. One day it is high, another day it is low. But the older I get the more I understand that self-acceptance will not happen overnight.

Self-acceptance is a practice. It is a practice that needs to be actively worked at over a period of time.

Self-acceptance is a behaviour and an attitude. It’s a mindset and a choice. Self-acceptance is a hard concept to practice, but it is something that will forever be worth your while.

Celebrate Your Strengths

When you find the time to reflect on the characteristics that make you a valued individual than you can start to accept the person you are. Everyone has different talents, and abilities; therefore, it’s important to acknowledge your own. Find comfort in understanding that you were given those special strengths for a reason, and by accepting those strengths it will help you with your self-love journey.

Reflect On Lessons Learned

There is no sense living with regret because you aren’t able to change the past experience anyway. This is a HUGE realization! I have to remind myself this ALL. THE. TIME. Living in the past moment is how people miss out on complete happiness. Understanding the situation that occurred, reflecting on the experience, and learning from the entirety of the situation is how you can accept and move on. Accepting situations and circumstances is how we accept ourselves and continue on our journey toward self-love.

Stop The Inner Critic

You know that voice in your head telling you that you’re not skinny enough, that you’re not successful enough, or that you’re not smart enough? That criticizing voice is YOU. Stop blaming the world for the life you DON’T have, and start realizing the life you DO have! Criticism gets you nowhere unless you create the change yourself. You either have to make a change or accept the reality. Once you stop criticizing yourself you will have plenty of room for self-acceptance.

Understand That You Are Unique

If everyone was the same then we’d know all of the answers in life. There would be no room for growth or change because the outcomes would be predictable and expected. If we were all the exact same than we’d be boring! If we looked the same, acted the same, or even laughed the same then people wouldn’t have talents, dreams, or different lifestyles. Accept those quirks and attributes that make you a unique individual. Even those “flaws” that you think you have, accept them, and I promise you’ll be a happier person.