4 Strategies for practicing Radical Self-Acceptance

Radical Self-Acceptance Painting by Jennifer Mazzucco

#mindfulness #self-judgment #RadicalSelfAcceptance #negativethinkingpatterns #thoughts

Radical acceptance involves acknowledging how life unfolds without resistance, even if we don't like things at any given moment. It can take effort to apply this principle. How can we begin to accept our situation and ourselves despite experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, and fear?

Why self-acceptance is not the same as complacency.

It is essential now, more than ever, to practice radical self-acceptance. This means training ourselves to find inner stability despite unpredictable external circumstances. Ultimately, we are responsible for acknowledging our hidden wounds, which can lead to personal and collective growth.

Radical self-acceptance is the opposite of avoiding responsibility or giving up in self-defeat. It requires pushing against old ways of being to open the door to deep healing. Embracing radical self-acceptance allows us to integrate our shadow aspects and live authentically. By resisting the urge to repress, numb, react, excuse, or deny, we can become better citizens and positively contribute to our communities.

Here are four methods for cultivating radical self-acceptance:

1. Slow down whenever you feel yourself starting to self-judge.

When you feel the familiar self-judgment after saying or doing something you regret, take a moment to breathe. Acknowledge your feelings without brushing them off. Be open and allow yourself to be as you are without making excuses or avoiding the situation.

You can repeat this phrase to help change negative thought patterns: "This is the situation, and I deeply and completely accept myself as I am."

2. Remember that every setback is a learning opportunity.

The next time you feel this way, engage in an internal conversation that helps you solve the problem instead of getting caught in a cycle of self-blame. Here are three positive statements to use when your perfectionism or self-criticism arises:

I wonder what I was feeling when I did that?
That's OK; I'm still learning.
I wonder what I will do differently next time?

3. Avoid comparison.

It's common to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we fall short. This can take a toll on our self-esteem. It's important to remember that we can't accurately judge our own worth based on what we see of others. We don't know what's really going on in their lives. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should focus on our goals and measure our success based on our progress. If you find yourself stuck in a negative thought pattern, ask yourself, "What am I thinking? What am I feeling? What's the next right thing to do?" Then, refocus on your own unique journey.

4. Lean on the practices that remind you that thoughts are fleeting.

The next time you feel self-critical, try a practice that can lead you to a more positive state of mind and remind you that thoughts are fleeting. This practice can be meditation, tapping, walking, or being of service to others.

Above all, try to be as present with yourself as possible, moving into self-acceptance to show up in your center. Radical self-acceptance means being thankful for your assets, mistakes, misunderstandings, failings, and everything that has brought you to now. It's the epitome of compassion in action and how we become the highest version of ourselves.

Comments

What is "intimacy avoidance"? (Glossary of Narcissistic Relationships)

#Intimacy #Narcissistic Relationships #IntimacyAvoidance #Therapy, #Triple5light.com ACON Adult Children of Narcissists BAITING A narcissist loves to provoke a reaction from you, especially in public. They will provoke you into responding in an angry or emotional manner. (Your angry response is further evidence of your unbalanced state of mind). BLACK SHEEP The black sheep is blamed for just about everything that goes wrong within the dysfunctional family. They can’t do anything right. Their achievements are not recognized by the narcissistic parent and are swept under the carpet. BOUNDARIES Boundaries are a code of conduct or an unwritten set of rules which we consider to be reasonable behavior from those around us and our response when someone steps over the line. CLOSURE Closure in a normal relationship involves open and honest communication about what has gone wrong, you then wish each other well, say goodbye and move on. After a relationship with a narcissist e

How a Group of Gay Male Ballet Dancers Is Rethinking Masculinity

#Queerness #Dancers #Ballet #Masculinity #Dance #LGBTQ #Gay These men are finding new stages on which to express their #queerness, collapsing gender barriers in the world of dance. 1. The Ballerino When I was 15, I met a dancer from Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet . The company had come to Los Angeles to dance in the Olympic Arts Festival , and my parents volunteered to host a post-performance dinner in our backyard. I recall about 200 people — family friends, Olympic officials and maybe 25 dancers — eating curry (is that right?) off paper plates. But that’s not what this is about. No, this is about the ballerino — my word for him — I met and what he represented to a lonely gay kid in Southern California in 1984, a kid who had never before met another gay person. Earlier that evening, I had seen the dancer turn, leap and smile onstage, expressing through the mute language of ballet who he was. Something about his movement told me he was gay, and I felt he was dancing not

Juneteenth: An important day that marks the end of slavery in the United States.

#Juneteenth #Hope #Empowerment #Celebration #EmancipationProclamation #AbrahamLincoln #Holiday #BlackAmerican #AfricanAmerican #AmericaHistory #AfricanAmericantherapist #Triple5LightTherapy The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states. However, it took over two years for the news to reach enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865, Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and personally announced the end of slavery, effectively emancipating the remaining enslaved individuals in Texas. His arrival and announcement marked a turning point in the history of slavery in the United States. This momentous event became known as Juneteenth, a combination of 'June' and 'nineteenth.' Juneteenth is a day to remember and celebrate. It's an opportunity to honor, recognize, and celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans to the n

"Love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust". Bell Hooks

#AfricanAmerican #BellHooks #Love #Respect #WhereWeStand #ClassMatters "Love is a combination of six ingredients: care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust". Bell Hooks A writer, teacher and cultural critic, bell hooks is best known for her work examining systems of domination, especially racism and patriarchy, and how they may be overcome. She has published more than twenty books, including Talking Back: Thinking Feminist, Thinking Black; Killing Rage: Ending Racism , and Where We Stand: Class Matters . hooks says that uncovering and naming the forms of oppression in our society is an extension of her lifelong curiosity about love and her desire to see love manifested. “Perhaps the most common false assumption about love is that it means we will not be challenged or changed,” she once wrote in the Buddhist magazine Shambhala Sun . “When I write provocative social and cultural criticism that causes readers to stretch their minds, to think

Triple5Light Therapy

Search This Blog