Accept yourself!

Do you appreciate and accept yourself?

Accepting oneself brings about a peace of knowing oneself. You have no need to gain recognition from others. Your confidence is not based on what others say or in some cases, what others do not say. You are kind to yourself, you take care of your inner and outer body. You are aware of your weaknesses and your strengths and are happy to develop both without beating yourself up in the process. 

You can celebrate others knowing it takes nothing away from you. You can be inspired by others without secretly carrying envy and questioning why you do not have what they have or why you cannot do what they do.

Evangelist and author Joyce Meyer, often refers back to her major struggles with insecurities and constant need for recognition. I have read several of her books including Approval Addiction, Battlefield of the Mind, Help Me I am Married! Joyce always comes back to the same point; she neither loved or liked herself in her early life and was always aspiring to be something else, someone else.

For some accepting themselves has been rather easy, due to being optimistic, praised often as a child or adored by peers and family members. For others it is a struggle to accept themselves due to negative words being spoken over them, poor self-image or rejection.

I am going to be a little vulnerable in an area in which I struggled to accept myself.  I have passed this hurdle now so am no longer bound by it. One of the great benefits to “letting go” of an issue is the freedom it brings. You can comfortably disclose it in the hope to encourage others.

I wear size 8 (41) shoes (probably from the age of 11/12). My feet were long and slim when young and my mother often had trouble finding suitable shoes and sandals. She became frustrated at having to frequent a number of shoe shops. As a result I felt guilt and shame. When buying shoes as a late teen/young adult, I would ask shop assistants for my size in the lowest voice ever and find a hidden corner to try the shoes on. I felt embarrassed at having large feet and I did not want customers watching me squeeze my feet into the shoes.  A few “friends” from the past, male and female commented on the size of my feet. I wondered what on earth they expected me to do – cut my feet in half?

Now I love (okay like) my feet and I accept them slim and long as they are. They are quite model like!  My husband wears size 11 shoes and you can guess our children have “generous” size feet! In fact, soon after my son was born, the midwife commented on the length of his feet. I just smiled – how could I have expected anything different?

You need to make a decision to accept yourself. You do not need to be given the go ahead from anyone. Accepting yourself should not be equated to staying just as you are and developing a “this is who I am – like it or lump it” attitude. It means accepting where you are right now and being determined to work on those areas required.

The more tolerant you are with yourself, the more tolerant you will be with others. In the same way that those who love themselves can freely love others.

Do you easily accept yourself?
How easily do you accept others?