Assuming we are all doing the best we can might free us up to feel gentler, kinder and more compassionate to ourselves – and others
Radical acceptance of ourselves opens the door to knowing and accepting that we are imperfect. This is vital because we spend so much of our lives trying to find some version of perfection. Interestingly, as soon as we build a strong enough practice of accepting ourselves, we usually become more accepting towards other people. This can’t work in reverse – if we try to accept other people while still holding a seething bedrock of anger and hate at ourselves, we will project that anger on to other people.
I rarely speak in absolutes, but I will say it is impossible to feel for someone else what we cannot feel for ourselves. Self-acceptance must accompany any other acceptance.
More Stories
Brisk walking linked to lower risk of heart rhythm problems, study finds
Revealed: Chinese researchers can access half a million UK GP records
Resurrected pools, remnants of last ice age, attract wildlife in Norfolk