Self acceptance can be as hard to catch as a hummingbird and as tough to hang onto as a squirming, sweaty two-year old.  It’s often as elusive as the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.  But self acceptance every bit as precious, in fact, more so.

 Self acceptance is being okay with who you are now.  It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re totally happy with who you are.  You can desire change and still accept yourself.  But you must know that you’re just fine as is.

Self acceptance is about letting go of the need to prove to anyone (yourself included) that you’re okay.  When you can look at the worst of yourself (what you consider to be your greatest weaknesses) and still think you’re a fine human being, you have found self acceptance. 

Self acceptance requires three actions.

1.  You must hold yourself in high esteem.  In other words, you respect who you are and what you can do.

You must stop self-criticism if you want to have strong self esteem.  When you’re constantly beating yourself up, you can’t possibly make positive change.  Negative self talk is destructive and counter-productive.

Remember—you get back what you put out.  The more you esteem yourself, the more that positive vibration will go out to attract others who will respect you and treat you with kindness and generosity. 

If you don’t respect yourself now, begin treating yourself the same way you’d treat someone who you DO respect.  Eventually, you will live into the way you’re acting and self esteem will blossom naturally.

2.  You must love yourself.

If you’re waiting for someone else to love you before you find self acceptance, you’re going to wait a very long time—as in forever.  You can’t possibly get enough love from others to compensate for a lack of self love.

It’s almost impossible to be happy if you don’t love yourself.  No matter how much success or money or attention you get, something will be missing.

To love yourself, learn to see yourself with a softer focus.  In other words, don’t shine the harsh light of judgment on yourself. 

Think of someone or some animal you love deeply.  Notice how you look for the good in that person or animal.  (I find this is often easier with animals because we have lower expectations from them.  My dog, Muggins, helped me learn to love myself.  I noticed how I overlooked all her “bad” habits, and I applied the same way of seeing to myself.)

3.  You must be comfortable in your own skin.  In other words, give up the need to have a body that fits someone else’s standards. 

Although you may never treasure your cellulite (or any other imperfection you wish you didn’t have), you can treasure what your body can do for you.  Begin to notice how much your body allows you to do. 

The truth is you couldn’t experience the joys of life without your body’s help.  It gets you around, allows you to experience pleasure, gives you the tools necessary to achieve your goals.  Focus on what your body does, not on what it doesn’t have.  See your body as the happy vehicle that gets you where you need to go.  And be okay with the fact that it’s not a Lamborghini 

Achieving self acceptance is one of the wheels of Living Unleashed Power Train.  If this wheel isn’t spinning smoothly, your life will not be what you want it to be.  You will experience amazing liberation when you find true self acceptance.