Hi First name / friend,

 

Radical self-acceptance – are you familiar with this term? It’s our own ability to accept ourselves as a worthy human, flaws and all. Can you imagine that? Being ok with yourself even when you get it wrong? Accepting your mistakes as a mis-step not some major character flaw?

 

 

Now, some people are raised with seemingly intrinsic self-worth programming as their default setting. Then there are many others who have either experienced a corruption to that programming or completely missed the upgrade. Corny software comparisons aside – we are not all programmed equally.

 

 

Quick sidenote – I think it’s important to acknowledge that many of our caregivers did the best they could with the resources, knowledge, and energy they had during our formative years. However, we may have internalized certain beliefs that now warrant a closer look.

 

I’m going to let you in on three key dysfunctional beliefs that plague a surprising number of us humans, straight-up sabotaging our mindset.

 

Ready? Here we go:

 

(dive in)

 

1 – I must always do well to be approved of by others.
When we believe that our worth is tied to others’ approval, we can end up constantly chasing external validation, often at the cost of our own happiness and well-being. This belief can lead us to overwork, perfectionism, and a lack of self-compassion.

 

2 – Everyone should treat me kindly and fairly at all times.
When we expect fairness in every interaction, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Life is full of unpredictable situations, and when we believe we’re entitled to kindness and fairness all the time, it can leave us feeling disillusioned and resentful.

 

3 – Life is supposed to be easy and convenient.
This belief can leave us feeling frustrated and helpless when life doesn’t go according to plan. Challenges are part of the human experience, and when we expect things to be easy, we can quickly feel overwhelmed and defeated.

 

 

When we live in alignment with these beliefs, life is good – as long as we, other people, and life always act accordingly. As soon as we are faced with trickier challenges, our mindset can spiral southward rapidly and so too can our feelings around self-worth.

 

(tornado)

 

 

Albert Ellis, the creator of REBT (Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy), believed that many of our emotional struggles stem from unrealistic beliefs, like the three we've just discussed. By recognising these beliefs, REBT can then help us to reframe our thoughts and develop healthier, more balanced perspectives. This approach directly supports stepping into radical self-acceptance, empowering us to accept ourselves, others and the world around us despite imperfections and challenges.

 

As we embark on this journey – be sure to do the following 6 Minute Moments exercise, it just might help identify some areas that could do with some gentle awareness and warm compassion.

 

LINK TO 6 MINUTE MOMENTS – WHERE DOES MY BELIEF COMPASS POINT

 

 

After you have completed this gentle reflective hypnosis, record your observations. You will benefit by setting aside some time to do this helpful step.

 

 

Join me next week as we dive deeper into the question: 'Am I okay with who I am?' If it's a bit unclear, don't worry! We've got a gentle technique to help bridge that growth gap and move toward radical self-acceptance.

 

 

Wishing you an interesting week ahead,

 

 

x Marisa