Self-esteem and self-acceptance

I had already written a while ago about the fact that each of us will live with one person for the rest of our lives. This person is precisely the self of each one. That is, I will live with myself all my life, because there is no possibility of taking a vacation from yourself. At least, for now. And if so, it is important to think about the following:

How do you see yourself?

• Do you accept yourself as you are or are you in the moment?
• Are there many things you would like to change?
• Are you always criticizing yourself? Or do you fully accept yourself?

Mirror – How do you see yourself?

Honestly answering these questions is important because the first step is always to recognize where we are, in what way we are.

Self-esteem means esteeming yourself. Cherish the self, the body, the soul. Thousands of studies have already proven that people who accept themselves tend to be less sick (physically and mentally), and have, in general, a better quality of life when compared to people with low self-esteem.

So what causes or generates high self-esteem? Self-esteem that has positive consequences, or, to put it in a nutshell, self-love?

Is it the external situations (having a good family, a good home, a good job and good interpersonal relationships?) that cause high self-esteem, or is it the opposite, that is, having high self-esteem? Is it adequate that allows each of us to have a good family, a good home, a good job and good interpersonal relationships?

In short:

Many therapists argue that the main thing in a psychotherapeutic treatment is not only the resolution of problems, conflicts and symptoms, but the development of a greater acceptance of who we are, of our defects and qualities.

Evidently, accepting even one’s own shortcomings does not mean being paralyzed and never changing. As if to say: “Oh, that’s who I am. It’s fine like that, why change it?” Well, acceptance is the first step, but not the only one.

Recognizing that we are the way we are in the present moment is important to develop a more adequate self-esteem. But to the extent that we really accept ourselves, something paradoxical happens, something incredible and contradictory: we accept ourselves as we are, and by accepting ourselves, we can begin to change, to improve, to perfect ourselves in areas, situations or circumstances in which, normally, we wouldn’t get along.

So start wondering if you accept yourself and what points you don’t accept and would like to change. The next step, then, is to start thinking and researching ways to be able to change, ways and means of doing things differently so that, consequently, you can feel and think in a happier way about yourself.

For this reason, I also suggest reading our series of texts on – How to change

And all our texts on Practical Tips

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