Acceptance is self-love

Acceptance is important for growth. If we are to heal, we need to acknowledge all of the uncomfortable parts of ourselves. That includes thoughts, emotions, and the past. Take care of our dirty dishes or laundry! Sometimes we focus on helping others. On looking at what others are doing wrong, and then decide that they need forgiveness. We might feel that others are struggling, and need help. Or they are in the dark, and we need to bring them to light. We might feel that others need our love, and so we give them this love. Those are all grand gestures! Yes, they might need that too! Yet, where it might be easy to cast our judgement on the behaviours of others, it is worth reflecting on whether we are deflecting from addressing the enemy that is within. Or we could equally address our own enemy within at the same time as we practice virtuous acts. If only we believed that in us lies the same people we judge, condemn, love and help. We could be in a position to accept and love ourselves a little more, while we love and accept others like us at the same time. Perhaps it is us needing help. Or we are the ones needing our own forgiveness for not treating ourselves kindly. Perhaps we are the ones who need to drag ourselves out of darkness to the light. Perhaps we need the love we think others need from us. Perhaps it is us who need this guidance we think we owe others. Or it is us who need a bit of knowledge! Food for thought!