Definition

Noun: * Self-acceptance: The act or state of accepting oneself fully, including one's perceived flaws, limitations, and strengths. It involves acknowledging and embracing all aspects of one's personality, body, and life experiences without harsh judgment or the condition of needing to change to feel worthy.

Usage

"Self-acceptance" is an uncountable noun. It describes a psychological state or ongoing process. It is often discussed in contexts of personal development, mental health, and well-being. * The journey to self-acceptance can be challenging but is fundamental to happiness. * Her therapy focused on cultivating greater self-acceptance. * A key component of confidence is self-acceptance.

Examples

• True self-acceptance means being kind to yourself even when you make mistakes.
• He found peace through self-acceptance, learning to appreciate his unique qualities.
• The book offers exercises to help readers practice self-acceptance.

Advanced Usage

• "Radical self-acceptance": A term often used in therapeutic contexts (e.g., Dialectical Behavior Therapy) to describe a complete and unconditional acceptance of oneself in the present moment.
  • She practiced radical self-acceptance, which helped reduce her anxiety.

Variants and Related Words

• Self-compassion (n): Treating oneself with kindness and understanding during times of failure or suffering, closely related to but distinct from self-acceptance.
• Self-esteem (n): Confidence in one's own worth or abilities. Self-acceptance is often considered a healthier foundation for self-esteem.
• Self-awareness (n): Conscious knowledge of one's own character and feelings. Self-acceptance typically follows self-awareness.

Synonyms

• Self-affirmation
• Self-approval
• Self-tolerance

Antonyms

• Self-rejection
• Self-judgment
• Self-criticism
• Self-loathing

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Warts and all": A phrase meaning including all the flaws and imperfections. It is frequently used to define the concept of self-acceptance.
  • He learned to love himself, warts and all.
• "To be at peace with oneself": To be free from inner conflict or turmoil, a common result of self-acceptance.
  • After years of struggle, she is finally at peace with herself.

Noun

1. an acceptance of yourself as you are, warts and all