Self-Acceptance is a Powerful Part of Self-Care
Self-acceptance and body acceptance are two important aspects of a healthy and happy life. Self-acceptance is part of self-care and is a journey that enables us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
Dear Spirited Earthling,
Self-acceptance is a crucial aspect of self-care. It is the act of acknowledging and embracing all aspects of oneself- the good, the bad, and the ugly. When we accept ourselves, we make a conscious decision to love and appreciate ourselves as we are, without the need for external validation. It involves recognizing our flaws and imperfections, while also acknowledging our strengths and capabilities.
Self-acceptance has numerous benefits for our mental health and well-being. It allows us to feel more confident and self-assured, leading to better self-esteem and self-worth. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety, as we are no longer seeking validation or approval from others. Additionally, self-acceptance promotes a more positive outlook on life, enabling us to focus on our goals and aspirations.
Cultivating self-acceptance requires practice and patience. It involves learning to let go of negative self-talk and self-judgment, and instead, replacing them with self-compassion and kindness. This can be achieved through various practices, such as mindfulness, meditation, and journaling. Ultimately, self-acceptance is a journey that enables us to live more fulfilling and meaningful lives.
“Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” ~ Lucille Ball
What is Body Image
Your perception of and feelings towards your body forms your body image, which is typically positively or negatively charged. A positive body image means you view, feel, think and act positively towards your body.
Body Positivity Movement vs Body Acceptance Movement
The body positivity movement came to the forefront when brands were called out (more publicly and with more traction than before) for the lack of inclusivity in body types and standards.
Having a positive mindset is crucial to living an extraordinary life, but toxic positivity can leave you being hard on yourself for normal slightly negative thoughts. So while the body positivity movement is an inclusive and needed progress in our society, there can be toxic body positivity linked to it where body-positive advocates don’t allow to you still have insecurities.
Consequently, there was a shift from a body-positive to a body-acceptance movement. The body acceptance movement allowed the acknowledgement of insecurities and an acceptance of them. There is respect and understanding of your body, and acceptance levels vary with the day.
How is body positivity different from body acceptance? The body positivity movement is more directed at companies and brands. The body acceptance movement is more focused on each individual. Body acceptance leans into the practices of self-acceptance, and ultimately self-care.
“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” ~ C. Joybell C.
How to Build Self and Body Acceptance
Self-love and self-acceptance is a journey that can be easy or difficult, depending on the day and mood. Self-confidence can be built through self-compassion. Here are some tips to help with self-acceptance and body acceptance.
1.Invest time and money into hobbies (unrelated to appearance)
Spending time on hobbies, doing things that make you happy, inspire you, and create community are all keys to a wholesome self-care routine. Learning new things and skills creates more interest in your life and gives you things to talk about with other people. It’s also a reminder that your appearance is likely one of the least interesting things about you.
Your passion for turtles is beautiful. Your love for writing is fascinating. Your drawing skills are remarkable. The body you have is home to a spirit that shines beyond the physical.
“Today is life – the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” ~ Dale Carnegie
Read: Why, How to, and Easy, Doable Ideas to Invest in Yourself
2. Lessen time on appearance-focused media
Knowing who and what influences you is important. The majority of what you are self-conscious about is instigated by external experiences, advertisements, feedback, and social media.
One of the risks with social media is that you may follow people because you aspire to be them and live a version of their lives, even though you know they are showing curated feeds. But on days when you're struggling, these ‘inspirations’ can have negative effects on you.
Too much time on social media tends to lead us to place higher meaning on things we see online than on things we have in our own lives. Put the phone done and get outside.
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” ~ Joseph Campbell
3. Your body holds the features of your ancestors
Delving into your ancestry and learning of your origins can bring a different significance to your features. Whether your features adhere to current beauty trends or not - you carry the features of your ancestors, you wear your history.
It isn’t relevant if your family history is a fairy tale or an emotional novel, there is a reason for every part of you. The curvature of your nose and the placement of your eyes, the lines on your hands and the size of your legs, are all features carried through history and reflected in you. And that, sweet Earthling, is a beautiful thing.
“Do something every day that is loving toward your body and gives you the opportunity to enjoy the sensations of your body.” ~ Golda Poretsky
4. Be kind to yourself
As always, journal through your feelings and let go of the feelings of the day.
Practice positive self-talk and affirmations. Create a new and truer perception of you and your looks.
Leave notes for yourself around your space with compliments like you look beautiful, and you are powerful.
Choose to be your friend and not your enemy. Choose kindness over self-judgement.
Give yourself a hug.
Remember, self-acceptance and body acceptance are ongoing journeys, and it is important to be patient and kind to yourself along the way. You have one life in this body. Appreciate it and embrace it so you can fully live your wildly beautiful life.
Spirited Earthling isn't just a blog; it's a place where kindred spirits can explore the worlds of self-development, self-care, and spirituality along this adventure called life. Designed for those with curious minds and spiritual hearts, this site can be like a guiding compass to bring mindfulness and intentionality into every step of our journey.
As you journey through these words and ideas, remember that inspiration thrives when shared. Consider gifting someone a ticket to their own transformative voyage by sharing this blog, or even just this post. By doing so, you're not just sharing knowledge – you could be igniting a spark of inspiration and possibility in another soul. Together, let's encourage a movement of mindful, spirited living. For in sharing, connecting, and uplifting, we each walk our paths with positivity and growth.
Thank you for being part of this community.
Best wishes, warmest regards
Jordan
Affirmations: I love and accept myself. I appreciate and acknowledge all of me.
Journal prompts: What are my favourite qualities about myself? When I look in the mirror, what do I look at first? How can I speak kindly about this body part from now on?
Exercise: Give yourself a hug
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Read why daily affirmations for children are a good thing, find out how to incorporate affirmations into your child’s day, and choose your favourite affirmations for children from the list below.