Mastery of self-esteem-the practice of self-acceptance

I am lately have been drawn into what is termed soft sciences.

What is really soft about self-esteem?

What is really soft about self-acceptance?

What is the difference between the two?

As for me, they seemed to be the same thing until I read Nathaniel Branden's Book "Six Pillars of Self-Esteem".

Today as I contemplate my day 2 Practice, I was drawn to the three levels of self-acceptance.

In his definition, Self-esteem is the confidence in your ability to think and the sense of being worthy of happiness.

Self-esteem is an experience resulting from our ability to trust our own minds, thoughts, and ideas and also to honor ourselves.

LEVEL 1 - I am who I am.

Self-Acceptance is to be for yourself, which is the orientation of self-value and self-commitment. You acknowledge the fact that you are conscious and alive.

The hardest or most challenging thing in life is to overcome self-rejection.

"We are born original but die copies"

Self-acceptance is your ability to stand for your own right to exist and being able to choose yourself.

LEVEL 2 - Experience Yourself As You are

Be willing to experience, making it real to yourself, without denial or evasion that

I think what I think

I feel what I feel

I have done what I have done

I desire what I desire

I am what I am.

When I do not think of these as "Not being Me" and be willing to embrace them and be present to the reality of what is as is, then I would have mastered the skill of self-acceptance.

There are days I wake up not feeling like going to work or do anything really productive. I simply make it real to myself and acknowledge that feeling and emotion, then after experiencing myself in that state, I then find myself feeling much better for simply accepting the feeling.

This is what is called "The Power of No Effort" or "ABCs of Salvation". For any change to happen, you must first accept and acknowledge to yourself the reality of what is as-is.

The willingness to accept to experience does not necessarily mean "I Like it" or "I enjoy it", but it means I respect the truth and reality of all the facts as they are.

LEVEL 3-Being your Own Friend

Self-acceptance in this stage is being compassionate to yourself, being a friend. You begin to detach from your emotions, thoughts, feelings, actions, and behavior, and begin to ask questions you would to your friend.

As a friend, you seek to understand the "WHY" of every thought, emotion, feelings, behavior. If you have done something you regret, you want to understand why something so wrong or inappropriate felt desirable or appropriate or even necessary at that time.

In order to understand yourself better, you must also seek to understand the internal considerations that prompt your behavior.

"Love does not ask why"

Celion Dion Track-Love Does not ask Why

Love doesn't ask why
It speaks from the heart
And never explains
Don't you know that love doesn't think twice?
It can come all at once
Or whisper from a distance

Bible Says:

"Love rejoices in the truth"

Self-Acceptance is a practice of what we do and self-esteem is what we experience. People with high self-esteem find it easy to respect and honor themselves because they live in the light of the truth. They question everything and understand that their minds are their only survival tool and their happiness is their responsibility.

Mirror Man

When you stand naked in front of the mirror, which part do you find easier to look at and which one is hard to look at?

Perhaps you see signs of age and cannot bear the emotions these thoughts evoke.

I noticed that I had signs of gray hair growth and got some belly fat.

"I don't like certain things about my body, such as the belly fat but I am accepting myself for what I am now"

In the past 90 days, I began a 10-minute bedside gym routine and have shed belly fat and gained muscles. I feel more rejuvenated and strong.

Self-Acceptance is the beginning of growth.

Self-Acceptance to me means ------ (share your ideas and opinions)

All masters were once beginners.

Practice Self-Acceptance.