[JustJace2u]

Met with my therapist today who wants me to work on self-acceptance, accepting myself for who I am and not worrying so much about a 'label'. This is not an easy task to say the least. I've spent so much of my life being self critical because I was always told by my peers (not my family) that I would never amount to anything and that I would always be a loner. How does one become accepting of who they are? That's the question.

[Fuzzybear]

Ugh... people who use "always" and "never" about others - in contexts like you describe. Did they have a freakin crystal ball or were they just sadistic

I'm happy your t seems to be ok

[JustJace2u]

I love my t and pdoc. Without them I don't think I'd still be above ground today. I'm almost 43 years old and feel like I'm starting my life all over again

[Fizzyo]

Self acceptance is a hard lesson to learn, some of us are better at it than others, but if we can get closer to liking ourselves, we do less beating ourselves up and more caring which can help the quality of life.

Best of luck and more power to your elbow

[JustJace2u]

Originally Posted by Fizzyo

Self acceptance is a hard lesson to learn, some of us are better at it than others, but if we can get closer to liking ourselves, we do less beating ourselves up and more caring which can help the quality of life.

Best of luck and more power to your elbow

Thank you. I am definitely working on it.

[MommaD]

Wish I knew the answer to that question--still working on it after all these years. Sometimes I really struggle to find something I like about myself and that critical voice in my head is always there reminding me of all the mistakes I've made.
I still remember a line from the movie Pretty Woman: "the bad stuff is easier to believe"
Guess we'll have to work on self acceptance together

[northbelle]

I for one...accept all of you..but its harder with self

[JustJace2u]

Originally Posted by MommaD

Wish I knew the answer to that question--still working on it after all these years. Sometimes I really struggle to find something I like about myself and that critical voice in my head is always there reminding me of all the mistakes I've made.
I still remember a line from the movie Pretty Woman: "the bad stuff is easier to believe"
Guess we'll have to work on self acceptance together

It's like I said to my therapist when I last saw her...I feel like I have the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and they're both fighting for attention.

[Clara22]

Originally Posted by JustJace2u

It's like I said to my therapist when I last saw her...I feel like I have the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other and they're both fighting for attention.

I think self acceptance is difficult for us particularly if we were not fully accepted by our parents. My mom was too critical towards me

[Turtlesoup]

For myself the self acceptance is a continuing work in progress. I can see though when I look through old journal entries that I have gotten much better at it. It's hard & I can relate that the bad stuff is easier to believe. Having a supportive partner, daughter & friends makes a big difference from how things were in my past. All good things are worth working for & I believe it's important to make this a priority.

[LadyShadow]

Originally Posted by Turtlesoup

For myself the self acceptance is a continuing work in progress. I can see though when I look through old journal entries that I have gotten much better at it. It's hard & I can relate that the bad stuff is easier to believe. Having a supportive partner, daughter & friends makes a big difference from how things were in my past. All good things are worth working for & I believe it's important to make this a priority.

This is so wonderful! I believe this totally. It really IS a work in progress. I am definitely more self accepting of myself than I was about three years ago. I can't tell you what it was that changed. A lot of it had to do with me just giving up and not giving a crap (not a good way of going about it), but just releasing all that self guilt and shame about my body, appearance, career, etc. was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I think that it comes with time and with practice. Doing things that make YOU happy inside and out. For me, (in my mania) one of the only things I did for myself was buy tons of lotions, body gels, and candles, and let me tell you it improved my mood greatly! Aromatherapy is wonderful, and once you smell something beautiful. you feel beautiful too! Just a small step to take, is all I am suggesting.

But I definitely see myself more self-accepting that I was years ago. I think I am beautiful in my own way. I wear lipstick and do my hair when I go out now, and I take a shower every day. Three years ago, this was unheard of.

Small steps. You'll get there.