By accepting yourself, you can strengthen your self-esteem

By accepting yourself, you can strengthen your self-esteem. This means acknowledging all aspects of yourself, both positive and negative.

Many people have low self-acceptance, which can stem from various reasons. According to psychological theories, developing self-esteem partly comes from the admiration of others for our efforts or actions. Some individuals with low self-acceptance may strive for grand achievements to validate themselves, believing it will make others or themselves see their self-worth. However, this may only provide short-term boosts to their self-esteem.

Lack of self-acceptance can make it difficult to cope with emotional distress. When we frequently have negative feelings about ourselves, it can disrupt the brain regions responsible for emotional regulation and stress management.

Positive social relationships, supportive communities, and social acceptance contribute to the development of self-respect. We should treat ourselves with respect, even when we make mistakes or fail to achieve goals. Offering self-forgiveness and self-encouragement helps us approach problems and manage them effectively. It is more beneficial to ourselves than blaming or criticizing ourselves or others, which can worsen emotional control and problem-solving abilities.

Developing self-acceptance skills allows us to empathize with ourselves. For example, writing a letter to ourselves about situations that have caused us pain, describing the circumstances without blaming anyone, including ourselves. Consider what we would say to a close friend facing similar difficulties. This way, when we encounter such situations again, we can respond with empathy towards ourselves.

There are three important components of self-empathy:

Self-compassion: Individuals with self-empathy accept their imperfections and those in their lives, treating themselves and others with care and kindness.
Human universality: Acknowledging the common humanity in the imperfect experiences shared by all individuals.
Mindfulness: Observing our thoughts and feelings, without immediate judgment of ourselves or others.

In the current situation, many unprecedented events have occurred that neither people nor we ourselves have encountered before. Numerous circumstances have caused loss, disappointment, or hopelessness. However, it is important to always remember to accept ourselves, to empathize with ourselves, and to forgive ourselves. Treat ourselves with compassion and understand that we are ordinary human beings who cannot control everything according to our desires. Develop mindfulness to better perceive various problems, so that everyone can manage their emotions and overcome obstacles, becoming individuals who have learned from the crises they have faced in life.