Self-Acceptance and Happiness

 This month’s theme at SWC is “Happiness and Joy.”

Today we are looking at self-acceptance as a form of happiness.

According to Robert Holden, author of Happiness Now!:

“Happiness and self-acceptance go hand in hand. In fact, your level of self-acceptance determines your level of happiness. The more self-acceptance you have, the more happiness you’ll allow yourself to accept, receive and enjoy. In other words, you enjoy as much happiness as you believe you’re worthy of.”

So basically: self-acceptance = happiness

One of the most important aspects of self-acceptance is that it must be unconditional.

Very often we only love ourselves when we are doing well or when we accomplish a goal. Self-acceptance, on the other hand, teaches us that we should love ourselves no matter what. Even if we fail or make a mistake, we are still valuable.

This, in turn, allows our happiness to be unconditional as well. Our joy is not based on whether or not someone likes us. It is based on who we are, not what we do or how people perceive us.

Here is a great resource with 12 ways to practice self-acceptance.

https://www.happiness.com/magazine/personal-growth/self-acceptance/

The most important message to take away from this? You don’t have to wait for happiness. You already have everything you need within you to move toward happiness right now!