By Bhuvana Sri Naga
MBBS 2nd year, Siddhartha Medical college, Andhra Pradesh, India
Amidst a tapestry of hues, the butterfly awakens within its cocoon’s confinement. Breaking free with gentle grace, a semblance of self-acceptance, and transformation.
"Self-acceptance" is an individual's acceptance of all of his or her characteristics, whether favorable or negative. It entails accepting one's body, shielding oneself from negative criticism, and believing in one's own abilities.
It is not just about complacency or self-indulgence but also about a commitment to uncomfortable truth and integrity. It is not contingent on circumstances and has a beneficial impact on psychological, mental, and physical well-being. It is a tough journey to embark on, with tumultuous lows and highs, but it leads to contentment. It helps us combat the nefarious imposter syndrome.
The reason why we struggle to accept ourselves is because we feel that it is our fault, which sounds quite disempowering. But if we consider it as, "Well, it’s not my fault, but it is my responsibility,” In this case, the individual takes responsibility for his or her flaws and strengths.
Empirical evidence from research [1, 2] suggests that the mediation of self-acceptance in the relationship between self-worth and subjective wellbeing is positively associated. Albeit that multifaceted predicament such as "social conditioning," "past trauma’, "fear of rejection," "unrealistic expectations," and "comparison to others," As an illustration, social media can fuel up body dysmorphia and eating disorders like bulimia among adolescents.
With the convergence of social media, it has become an essential component of our daily lives.
According to numerous reports, these platforms are to blame for creating fears in young people. The majority of people aged 15 to 27 use at least one kind of social media. It's no surprise that our generation has been infatuated with the concept of perfection in the age of social media celebrities.
As we go through our feeds, we are exposed to a carefully selected selection of pictures that are far removed from our reality.
When we focus incessantly on bettering ourselves, believing that it would eventually lead us to a level of bliss, we are nearly always disappointed, and we set up a stressful dynamic of continuously striving but never quite getting there.
But this creates a paradox between self-improvement and self-acceptance. There is a fine line between challenging yourself and accepting yourself as you are. Self-acceptance without improvement will just lead to stagnation. Self-acceptance increases our chances of success because we are no longer competing with ourselves. Even when we develop, we say encouraging things to ourselves. We may quiet the inner critic and root for ourselves by practicing mindfulness.
Instead of aiming for perfection, we plan to make progress. Self-improvement without acceptance, on the other hand, might lead to detrimental self-criticism. It starts with setting realistic goals and not comparing yourself to others. Self-acceptance is the beautiful journey between who we are and who we are headed to be.
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”
~ Mark Twain
When we criticize ourselves, we are both the judge and the victim. To accept yourself, practice gratitude and meditate. Reform your negative thoughts and forgive yourself. The quirks and idiosyncrasies are what make us unique. Embrace the beauty within. The hardest challenge is being yourself when everyone is trying to be someone else.
References:
[1]. Sanjuán P. Affect balance as mediating variable between effective psychological functioning and satisfaction with life. J Happiness Stud 2011;12:373–84.
[2]. Su H, Wang L, Li Y, Yu H, Zhang J. The mediating and moderating roles of self-acceptance and self-reported health in the relationship between self-worth and subjective well-being among elderly Chinese rural empty-nester: An observational study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(28):e16149. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016149
(GS)