Selfacceptance is a key component of self-esteem from "summary" of Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
Self-acceptance, the willingness to experience one's thoughts, feelings, and actions without evasion or denial, is the bedrock of self-esteem. When we refuse to accept ourselves, we reject our deepest reality. We deny our thoughts, suppress our emotions, and live in a state of chronic self-deception. This self-rejection is the opposite of self-acceptance, and it breeds alienation, anxiety, and despair. Self-acceptance is an act of faith in oneself. It is a profound commitment to one's own life and well-being. It means saying yes to oneself, embracing one's strengths and weaknesses, virtues and flaws. Self-acceptance is the precondition for self-improvement because it allows us to see ourselves clearly, without distortion or illusion. Only when we accept ourselves can we begin to change ourselves. The refusal to accept oneself is often rooted in childhood experiences of neglect, abuse, or trauma. Many of us grow up in environments that are hostile to our sense of self-worth. We learn to mistrust ourselves, to doubt our own value, to fear our own emotions. We internalize the negative judgments of others and turn them against ourselves. Self-acceptance requires courage and honesty. It demands that we face ourselves as we are, not as we wish to be. It means acknowledging our mistakes, our limitations, our vulnerabilities. It means taking responsibility for our actions and their consequences. Self-acceptance is not a form of resignation or complacency. It is an active engagement with reality, a willingness to confront the truth about ourselves. Self-acceptance is a lifelong process, a journey of self-discovery and self-renewal. It requires patience and persistence, self-compassion and self-forgiveness. It means learning to love ourselves in all our imperfections, to trust ourselves in all our uncertainties. Self-acceptance is the foundation of self-esteem because it is the ultimate act of self-respect. It is the recognition that we are worthy of our own love and care, that we deserve to be happy and fulfilled.
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