This is the second post my girlfriend, Maureen, has inspired on the topic of self-acceptance. We’ve been talking a lot about it and how it trumps self-esteem and self-confidence as perhaps the most important goal in life.
Why? Because self-acceptance is an unconditional gift that only we can give ourselves.
Noted psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis, has written extensively on the merit of seeking self-acceptance rather than self-esteem which he sees as not only conditional but disempowering. It all makes sense if we see that most often our self-esteem is based on what others think of us and what we do rather than how we feel and think about ourselves.
Harry Emerson Fosdick makes it even more appealing to seek self-acceptance. He said, “One must have the adventurous daring to accept oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world, making the most of one’s best.”There’s something so exciting in thinking about myself as ‘a bundle of possibilities’ instead of constantly finding fault as if there was some redemption or reward in that.
In fact, self-acceptance might just be the ultimate life goal.
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