Self-acceptance is one of the most important elements of emotional healing and addiction recovery. Without it, we set ourselves up to repeat the same patterns of self-rejection that contribute to our lack of self-worth and fuel our addictions.

Self-acceptance is hard for many of us. We feel our mistakes and regrets are too shameful to forgive, let alone accept. Accepting the parts of ourselves that we might normally reject is an important part of the healing process. When we choose to love, accept and forgive ourselves, we’re giving ourselves the important foundation we need to recover.

How do we learn to accept ourselves, including the parts of ourselves we’re most unhappy with? Acceptance is possible when we choose to allow ourselves to be ok with discomfort and imperfection. Accepting something doesn’t mean we condone it or encourage it. It means we stop fighting it. We stop resisting it. We accept it for what it is. Accepting something doesn’t mean we’re ok with allowing it to remain that way, but the first step in changing or improving something is to accept it. We can’t let go of self-destructive patterns if we haven’t accepted them for what they mean, what they represent, and what they are trying to teach us. The first step of acceptance is to just allow. When it comes to our addictions and the patterns we’re trying to shed, first we must accept ourselves the way we are. “Yes, I am an addict. I acknowledge and accept that I have a problem. I accept that I need help.”

Next comes compassion. We have to learn how to be kinder to ourselves. We have to embrace every part of us, knowing that our flaws contribute to the bigger picture of who we are. The parts of us we would normally want to reject make us the unique individuals we are. The more we learn to embrace ourselves, the more we shift our self-rejection and self-hatred to compassion and self-love. “I choose to show myself kindness. I choose to give myself love.” We can’t heal ourselves if our energy is spent criticizing ourselves, beating ourselves up and rejecting ourselves.

With compassion comes understanding. Your issues more than likely originated from unresolved pain. Have compassion for your suffering, knowing that pain is a universal part of the human experience. Understand that each and every one of us is flawed and has pain to heal. Give yourself the gift of compassion and understanding as you’re learning to accept yourself. Your recovery depends on it.

Call 888-570-7154 for information on how we can support you in your recovery.