I find self-acceptance easier to strive for and more sustainable than positive self-esteem. As a therapist, I’ve focused on the concept for a long time. The academic definition is “an individual’s acceptance of all of his/her attributes, positive or negative,” and science indicates that it’s linked to high self-esteem, interpersonal satisfaction, and affect regulation (Morgago et al., 2014, p. 1). Liu and colleagues reported that “people with low self-acceptance develop psychological and behavioral problems” (2023, p. 1).
Self-acceptance means greeting all the different parts of you with bravery and compassion. Contrary to popular belief, self-acceptance does not mean to stop growing. Knowing yourself + self-compassion + reality = self-acceptance.
Here’s what I mean.(Click for full article)
