Chapter 6.2 Self-Acceptance

Self-Acceptance

“Know thyself.”
Ancient Greek Aphorism   (7th- 4th Century B.C.)

The second layer of the foundation our House of Positive Energy is Self-Acceptance, which in simple terms means to like yourself.  Oh, most of us like ourselves … but do we really feel good about the total package?  There will always be improvements, and there will never be perfection.

“The paradox seems to be, as Socrates demonstrated long ago, that the truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery.  While those who will not govern themselves, are condemned to find masters to govern them.”
The War of Art Steven Pressfield

An important step in reaching the Plateau of Positive+ is the recognition and acceptance that you are on your own personal life journey … ultimately by yourself. Since we all hope that our life will be a long journey, you had better get to know this person better than you do today.  Learn to be tolerant of your shortcomings, to understand them, to work them with your strengths.  Too many people beat themselves up over their personal deficiencies, instead of accepting them … and adapting them.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)
Human Rights Activist    First Lady, wife of FDR

Self-acceptance is one of the interesting hurdles I have discovered on my life-journey.  I never really considered myself a perfectionist. I’ve certainly learned my limitations in many physical areas, such as sketching, auto repair, and yoga flexibility.  I am even fairly tolerant of other people’s shortfalls (that is except for whining and complaining … I think you know that.)

Yet often times, I’ll let little things get me worked up … things that bug me a bunch and probably matter so little. It seems that we can’t be taking this journey on earth without our daily ration of screw-ups. Realizing that I am a perfect imperfect helps me to focus on a larger view of life.

“Remember, the mind is a child.  It believes what we tell it.  Our lives become hell through our self-created stories.  But we each have the power to stop the abuse.”
Byron Katie     Author and Spiritual Speaker

Some days are more difficult than others.  Have you ever had one of those days when a lot of little things go wrong?  Things fall out of your hands, you nick yourself, you trip, etc., etc., etc. You can blame it on the Leprechauns or the Menehunes, but, in the end, you’re the one that is making the moves.

“Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly; devils fall because of their gravity.”
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)     English Essayist, Novelist and Poet

I figure that little mistakes can be viewed as leeches or teaches.  You either let the minor mistake grab a hold of you and start sucking your energy, or you learn more about yourself from your experiences.  Hopefully you will respond differently next time.

“Life is difficult.
This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths … Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand it and accept it-then life is no longer difficult.  Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”
The Road Less Traveled     M. Scott Peck (1936-2005)

Self-acceptance can eliminate a lot of Anger. Too often, many of us take ourselves way too seriously.  It’s that me-world mentality.  Our little irritations are big because they’re ours. When little things go wrong, consider that maybe we are straying off our path right now. Perhaps our guides are trying to tell us to do something else this day.

“Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he
shall never cease to be entertained.”
Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773)    English Statesman and Author

“When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.”
The Second Sin     Thomas Szarz

When you are upset with yourself, like really angry or disappointed, consider this … you are fighting yourself.  You are using double energy … you against you.  And to top it off, it is double negative energy!  Talk about a total waste of life force … self-absorption, self-importance, I would suggest.  And it shows. You put up an energy barrier around yourself when you don’t approve of  your actions, and … you generate double negative vibes. You place a shield around yourself to keep others at a distance. (Maybe you’re trying to protect them from … you (?) )

“We cannot be a source of strength unless we nurture our own strength.”
The Road Less Traveled     M. Scott Peck (1936-2005)

Of course, all of us have built quite a few struggles in our lives.  We just can’t find it easy to accept things as they are … we need a drama, a problem, an issue.  We want conflict.  The ego needs something to conquer, be it a shopping list, a tennis match, a child’s schedule, a search for fame, or that 30 billionth dollar.

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.)     Chinese Founder of Taoism

So the key here is … the acceptance that we are who we are each day.  We may not be the best at what we do all of the time. We may not always be on our game.  Whether it be that our biorhythms are amiss or that we have brought it on ourselves, we can’t deny our part and we can’t make excuses … we just did it.  No one else … just us.

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.”
Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)     Ancient Greek Philosopher

So, self-acceptance means to like yourself … be okay with who you are right now. No envy, no guilt, no regrets.  Realize that your life is all that really belongs to you.  Don’t destroy it  … accept and enjoy it.

“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”
Carlos Castaneda (1925-1998)     Peruvian born American Writer

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