Have you been hiding all your life for fear of being rejected? Are you trying to fit yourself in the mold of others just so you are accepted? Are your behaviors and appearance a conditioned response just so you conform with the norms of society?
It’s high time to embrace yourself, even the scars and the imperfections that make-up the fiber of your unique self. It’s high time that you acknowledge yourself, the good and the bad, the blemished and the flawless. It’s high time to stop judging yourself but just simply loving it.
Here are some of the things you can do to be more self-accepting and live a happy and meaningful life.
- Forgive yourself. Are you still troubled and tormented by your regrets in the past? Are you still thinking of those wrong decisions, years back? It’s time to be more accepting of your past no matter how bad those years were. Instead, let your mistakes be your guiding light as you start your journey forward. You may have your bad days in the past, but surely, not a bad life. Admit your mistakes and appease yourself. It’s time to forgive yourself.
- Listen to your inner voice. A lot of people have to say about a lot of things, usually, negative things. Don’t listen to them. As Max Ehrmann said, “avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.” Don’t let their opinions affect you. Don’t let their voices dictate you what to do. Don’t let your self-concept be ruined by what they say. Let that inner voice from within guide you, instead.
- Accept your reality. Be more accepting of your life today, where you are and what you do. Recognize your reality and let it be your compass leading towards a direction of a purposeful and meaningful life.
- Don’t fit in someone else’s mold. Don’t fit yourself on someone else’s mold because you are made to stand out. To be unique isn’t about being different from others but having the potential for greatness because you see things as they are and not as others want you to see through their lens.
- Don’t let fear hinder you. Most of our fears come from what others say: “It’s too big for you. You cannot do it. You won’t succeed on it.” Fears of not being good enough, fears of failing, and fears of being judged. Maybe you have to stop carrying those negative opinions about yourself. Fears are part of your journey and failure is part of success. Try it now!
- Be honest with yourself. Remember that quote from E.M. Forster, “When real things are so wonderful, what is the point of pretending?” To be honest with yourself is to be free from all forms of pretensions. Surely, you have your insecurities and your weaknesses. But you don’t have to hide them. Recognize them and deal with them. Part of accepting yourself is having the courage to see yourself in the mirror without pretensions.
- Live simply. Be happy. Accepting yourself is the first step toward living a happy and simple life. And to be happy is a choice. The choice is yours.
Time to let go of those fears and stop wasting your energy hiding yourself. Fight those evil voices shouting inside, those scary things that inhibit and restrict you to just be who you are – carefree and happy.
Don’t let time run out for you to realize that self-acceptance is a key to living a happy, meaningful, and purposeful life.
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