Learning to accept yourself is not easy. In this article you will find a real guide with 7 practical tips to embark on a path of self-awareness towards self-acceptance.
Small or big daily sorrows, dissatisfaction, the failure of some personal or professional relationship and hundreds of other everyday challenges, can put the acceptance of oneself to a severe test.
Either way, ban any self-pity. Also because, after all, there is at least one good news: being able to accepting yourself is something you can cultivate day in and day out, as a skill to build and strengthen on your character and personality.
To encourage you to take this path more quickly and satisfactorily, here are 7 tips to read carefully and apply today.
I am sure that the results will not be long in coming and with the passing of the days you will strengthen your confidence and you will increase self-esteem!
1) Tormenting is useless
The most effective starting point is to understand that it is appropriate stop hating each other. This is not to say that by starting to repeat to yourself "I'm the best!" you will become, but it is good to understand that tormenting yourself, being perpetually dissatisfied or intolerant towards your way of being, will not get you anywhere.
In short, to begin the path that will lead you to full self-acceptance, it is good to begin to demolish any temptation to despise and despise yourself.
This small commitment alone will allow you to break at the origins that circle of thoughts, not very virtuous, which is compromising the possibility of living a more satisfying existence and at ease with yourself.
Yet, many people hesitate to show some kindness towards themselves, because they consider it undeserved. But remember that the key to accepting yourself is to understand that weaknesses and frailties are part of the experience of all and accepting who you are involves loving yourself even for your faults, and not "in spite of them".
If you want to embark on a real path to regain self-confidence, I suggest you take a look at Self-esteem step by step, the guide with which GetPersonalGrowth gradually accompanies you towards the rediscovery of super hero in you.
2) Dwell on your strengths
Once you understand that hating yourself leads nowhere, you have to make another effort but - I guarantee you - it will bring great results right away: focus on your strengths, overshadowing those of weakness.
The tendency of every human being is to look more severely at their own flaws rather than at their strengths. In short, many people - and perhaps you are among them - fail to see their strengths not because they do not have any, but because they are overshadowed by the "negative" points.
My suggestion is to change the order: try to put your qualities first and you will see that, in the face of these, even the defects that today seem heavier, will become smaller.
A little exercise might help you. If you are experiencing a time when you find it very difficult to accept yourself, try taking a sheet of paper and, every morning, write your strength.
It is not necessary to indicate “extraordinary” abilities. Try to write down those attitudes that you think can be positive qualities for you and others.
For example, you can start by writing that you are kind (if you are!) Or particularly good at some area of ​​your job, and so on. You will find that as you highlight your qualities, your strengths will become more numerous, varied and unexpected.
Another practical exercise that might help you is making a similar list, but replacing the strengths with the difficulties you have overcome in your life or with the goals you have achieved. Doing so will shift the focus from quality to results, reinvigorating your self-esteem.
3) Distance yourself from your detractors
Take a look at the people around you. Who speaks ill of you? And why do you allow these people to hurt you?
Distance yourself from "detractors", which will end up "infecting you" with their negativity. Conversely, surround yourself with people who accept you for who you are and believe in you. This way you will create the right environment to grow yours esteem and accept you with more enthusiasm and greater ease.
4) Be indulgent with yourself
It is a trap that we all fall into, sooner or later: the regrets that bind us to the past can prevent us from accepting ourselves in the present.
Well, there is an escape route: be indulgent with yourself, forgive yourself and move on!
Whether it's something you did and shouldn't have done, or a side of your character that led you to break up a relationship, it's important to treasure your mistakes, make every effort to improve yourself, and avoid replicating those mistakes in the future. and especially, accept that you cannot change the past.
Do you want an example? One of the biggest problems with accepting ourselves comes from our inability to reconciling who we are to the dreams we had in our youth. Maybe as a child you thought that you would become a famous footballer, and instead the only football you can give is that of Thursday night, at the soccer field. Or maybe you would have become a millionaire, and instead you are struggling to make it to the end of the month. Or that you would have had a wife and children, but never had a serious relationship.
Whatever your dreams or goals are, crying about them not being realized is completely useless! Rather, pick up on these remorse and turn them into energy to do better today!
But what to do when remorse emerges from the clouds of the past, to monopolize your mind with its reproaches?
The method I recommend you follow is simple, but effective. When you fall victim to remorse, don't escape it, but face it with decision. Reflect on the fact that at the time you had still made the best decision with the information you had available, therefore, the decision made, even if incorrect, at that moment seemed to be the most appropriate choice.
By doing so, by letting go of the past and the things you cannot control, you can finally release the positive energy that you can govern. It is no coincidence that accepting that you have a problem is the first step in making positive changes towards its resolution.
5) Shut up your critical spirit
Your critical spirit is a constant and annoying presence that scolds and disapproves of what you do and who you are. Many people make the mistake of identifying this side of their soul with "reason", or with that voice of conscience that is telling the truth. Wrong!
Even if a little bit of healthy criticism can be constructive, because it induces you to improve and reflect on some aspects of the environment around you, remember that if you leave too much space for the critical spirit you will end up being crushed.
Instead, try to respond to this presence with a more constructive attitude. Remind yourself that, like all people, you are not immune to mistakes and imperfections, and these are not necessarily "bad" or "failures". Instead, they are events that give you the opportunity to learn, repair and grow.
6) Help others
Doing charity it is a very healthy practice… for you, and for the people who receive the fruit of your efforts. But why can giving charity increase the possibility of accepting oneself for what one is?
The psychological mechanism that is triggered in the face of the "sacrifice" of renouncing something of one's own to give it to others, makes it possible to concretely see how one's actions can exert a positive influence on other lives. You will end up feeling more "good" and you will spread this goodness to others, in a contagious way.
If you can't do cash charity, you can still help others with some money voluntary. After a short time you will realize that what you will give is certainly much less than what you will receive in return.
7) Talk to your best version
Some psychologists argue that a useful method of accepting oneself is to use the imagination for interact with a better version of yourself. But how?
Try to visualize in your mind an "I" that is better, kinder, more honest, more empathetic, and more helpful. And who can advise you on what to do and what not to do.
Visualizing a sort of "separation" of the current suffering self from the better future self can help you harness a wisdom that is already within you. A simple exercise, which will allow you to understand how to show empathy, compassion and love towards yourself in a more immediate way!
Of course, I am aware that this exercise may not be easy to apply, especially in the first few occasions. For this reason I suggest that you carve out a space that is sufficiently quiet and isolated, take a few minutes to meditate and practice this visualization whenever you are in difficulty or need "support" to make important decisions.
Conclusions
We have seen some tips to improve your acceptance level.
But what if you fail to apply them successfully?
In this case, the best solution is also the simplest. If you don't "like" yourself, don't give up and continue to apply these tips with the right consistency. The road to full self-acceptance may not be short, but if you don't start right away… you'll never get there!
What do you think about it? Have you tried to apply any of these strategies?
