When someone tells you you look nice or that your hair looks good or that your laugh makes them happy, what is your first response? I can almost answer that before you do. Instead of saying “thank you”, I bet your first instinct is to deny it or make an excuse of why that may temporarily true. My eyes are pretty? Well, you should see them on a normal day when I’m really tired. Those bags are big enough to go on vacation in. See?

Everything Is Negative Before It’s Positive

I wrote a blog back in aught March or April 2020 that is still one of my favorites about how we have trouble accepting compliments from others (SEE FNBB 9). We just can’t see what other people see, unless it’s something negative. Life has taught us that everything is negative first and to be thankful for the few positives. It is a definite pattern that once we’re in it, it is hard to break.

How much would our lives change if we started with the positive before the negative? The amount of self-acceptance we would experience could literally change our lives because self-acceptance of our who we are and what we are the keys to a happier life. I’ve heard from many, many people over the last year who have said that a happier life starts with how you feel about yourself.

The Road To Self-Acceptance

There are several roads to self-acceptance, but let’s talk about your appearance. Again, it is so easy to not like what we see in the mirror. Our eyes immediately fall to the things we think that are wrong with us or could be improved. Let me state here, that in all honesty, you are perfect the way you are. BUT, if there are things that would make you happy to change, consider it a challenge.

The way to get access the motivation to change those things starts with finding what we do like. Look in the mirror again, what attribute(s) to you LIKE ? Be honest with yourself, there is at least one. Is it your smile? Or your legs or your curves? Focus on this trait only. How does it make you feel about yourself? Do you feel warm or proud or sexy?

Share The Love

Now imagine feeling that way about other parts of your body. Why do you feel good about that one attribute? And why don’t you feel that way about other parts of your body? Now pick an attribute that isn’t your favorite. Give it grace. Realize that it actually has served you well in many situations and has been pretty amazing for you. What kind of self love can you show it to start moving it into your self-acceptance zone? How can you reward this attribute with some focus?

Your smile has served you well, but do you wish it was brighter? Investigate teeth whitening systems. Your arms have carried your babies, but now you aren’t liking your sagging triceps? Show they some love with some tricep kickbacks each week to start tightening them up. Once you begin to bring focus to that area, you will begin to discover some self-acceptance and love for it. It’s doing all it can and you have to help it to the next level.

The End Game

The end game is to look in the mirror and accept the whole image that you receive back. No one is actually perfect and we are all imprinted with amazing uniqueness, which is what other people fall in love with, not our triceps. It’s just that we have to get our own minds and mindset in on the game.

I say to show yourself some self love and treat yourself and your body well. If you do that you won’t be able to not like what you see. The body you see is yours. And it’s the only one you will have in this life. Take care of it, love it, and accept it. It does amazing things for you, even when you don’t notice.