The Art of Self Acceptance
Humans are messy. From the time we are born, we are diversely expressive bundles of physical flailings, emotional gurgitations and mental evolutions. And then there’s the psychological poop. The mustard colored blobs that once seeded our psyche with implanted memes of the post-utero world around us.
Once we’ve excreted these dark yellowed, sticky packages of waste from our soulscape, WHY DO WE PICK THEM BACK UP AGAIN???
This could be answered in a number of ways.
One is perhaps, as perceived creatures of habit, we cling to the encrusted stench because it is just that, a habit. It is a practiced behavioral womb of perceived safety and it doesn’t even occur to us that there is a different way of life beyond its cushiony walls.
Secondly, it can be described as familiar to us; as a known realm. The unknown outside of our makeshift behavioral womb space can be a scary place. We often decline the fresh opportunities of personal growth because we feel safe inside the stinky familiar.
Acceptance. Paradoxically, acceptance of our short-comings is what helps us to let go those smelly packages so that new ways of Being and relating to others can emerge.
Acceptance turns guilt into honesty.
Acceptance turns shame into truth.
Acceptance turns inferiority into authenticity.
And with the keys of honesty, truth and authenticity in hand, self-acceptance closes the doors of fear and opens the gates of Love.
The Art of Acceptance is a way of painting a colorful, expressionistic painting that says….
“I will not always be there for you the way you want me to be. Sometimes I have to say no. And I’m learning to be OK with that. I’m learning that I don’t always live up to what is deemed appropriate by the status quo. I’m learning that this doesn’t make me any less of a person. I’m learning to forgive and accept myself regardless of the perceived lacking. This may make you feel angry or disappointed or sad. I’m sorry. You may blame me for not making your life easier or better. You may feel afraid and lost. You may judge, curse, or hate me. You may think that I don’t love you. Or that I don’t care about you. This is not true. I care and I love you as much as I am able to in the moment. I wholeheartedly promise to support you the best way I can wherever I am. Sometimes my capacity to support you doesn’t match up with your requirements or my perception of your requirements. Sometimes, I feel guilty or shameful that I don’t match up accordingly. I even may lie, manipulate, or try to ignore the situation and the inferiority I feel. But the truth is, those are ways of me picking up my internal poop again. Instead, I will do my best to honestly tell you what I confidently can do for you and I will do it with Love. With love for you. And with love for me.”