Self-Acceptance

Self-acceptance is the active, honest acknowledgement and appreciation of our capabilities, talents, and physicality—all of our strengths and weaknesses. It is the act of recognizing our whole self, of integrating all aspects of ourselves into our self-image. But self-acceptance is not resignation! It is instigating self-development from a basis of compassion instead of criticism. The expectations we receive and internalize from our many identities—and our image-obsessed culture—can make self-acceptance difficult, but understanding how to balance a desire for change with our inner critic is essential to happiness and health.