Posted by Dinah on February 27, 2002, at 19:31:05
In reply to Self Acceptance, posted by Roo on February 27, 2002, at 14:03:54
Interesting topic.
I have mixed feelings about self acceptance. Sometimes I think I accept myself a bit too much. I'll hear the inner critical voices (or the outer critical voices - husband, father, etc.) and evaluate the merits of the criticism. I can pretty easily say "Well that's not true." or more frequently "That's at least partially true." And if I were a bit less accepting of myself I might actually do something to improve myself instead of just acknowledging that I need to lose 50 lb. and am a lousy housekeeper.
So, in other words, my inner critical voices don't particularly bother me most of the time. Then there are other times when I see myself in a picture or something and get an overwhelming urge to stab the image and completely obliterate it. I guess I haven't come to terms with the subject completely.
Theoretically I would say that self approval should be earned like any other type of approval. So I would like to listen to my inner voice, evaluate the degree of truth in the criticism, and if there is something I should change, work to change it. If my critical inner voice is wrong or overactive, medication might be in order. And I probably should decide not to judge myself any more harshly than I judge others, but not less harshly either.
I don't know if this answers your question, or is useful in any way, but I completely accept the possibility of my answer's total lack of usefulness and am offering it anyway. And that's... OK (as Stuart Smalley would say).
poster:Dinah
thread:18982
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020223/msgs/18993.html