A lot of people commonly look to others for love and acceptance, perhaps especially when they’re younger. We are often taught from an early age that other people’s opinions of us are quite important, and that we may achieve more success and happiness in life if we are loved and accepted by others. This can cause us to really put an emphasis on our interpersonal relationships, which is fine to a certain extent. However, by focusing so hard on these relationships, we often lose track of what is really the most important connection in our lives: the one we have with ourselves.
Self-acceptance and self-love can be much more powerful than the kind we get from others. In fact, by loving yourself and all of your strengths and weaknesses, you may be able to change your life in ways that you may not have otherwise thought possible.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways that self-acceptance and self-love will change your life.
Improve Your Relationships
It may seem almost counterintuitive, but by accepting and loving yourself, you may improve your interpersonal relationships. When we rely on others for our happiness, we often set ourselves up for rejection and disappointment. This is because we have no control over the thoughts or feelings of other people. So, if we catch them on a bad day, they may lash out in a way that makes us feel unloved and unhappy. And you can’t really blame them either, as they need to be free to focus on their own lives.
By practicing self-love and self-acceptance, you no longer have to seek the approval of others. You don’t have to worry about rejection and disappointment, which can make you feel more confident and at ease in your relationships.
Take Better Care of Yourself
When you don’t feel good about yourself, it can be difficult to find the motivation to engage in healthy practices. If you’re unhappy with your body, for instance, you may think that there’s no point in exercising or eating healthy. You’re already in bad shape, so why bother trying to change things?
By loving and accepting yourself, on the other hand, you may be more willing to take better care of your body and general well-being. You’ll eat better, move more, and practice self-care to help keep your mental and physical health in good condition. You’ll realize that you deserve to be healthy, and you owe it to yourself to make the effort.
Achieve Your Goals
Just as self-acceptance and self-love can be powerful influences in your life, so too can self-judgment and self-criticism. If you’re always second-guessing yourself and thinking you’re wrong or you can’t do something, then you may be right. You may not take those opportunities that would allow you to be successful, which can make achieving your goals next to impossible.
If you approach your goals with self-love and self-acceptance, though, you may be able to quiet those negative voices. In fact, you may be able to replace them entirely. By changing “I can’t” to “I’ll try” or even “I will”, you’ll open yourself up to more opportunities, and you may even surprise yourself. By loving and accepting yourself, you won’t stand in your own way anymore, and you’ll be free to experience happiness and success on your own terms.
Looking to transform your life? Contact Edie Gudaitis Wellness today, and we’ll help you find the program that’s right for you!