The first step to self-acceptance is learning to see yourself as you really are. Not the version you try to present on social media. Not the version shaped by other people’s expectations. The real, unfiltered you.
This means acknowledging your strengths and your shortcomings. It’s okay to admit you’re good at some things and struggle with others. It’s okay to feel proud of what you’ve overcome and still be working on certain parts of yourself. Accepting yourself requires honesty—but not harshness.
Try journaling your thoughts or talking openly with someone you trust. What patterns do you notice? Where are you hardest on yourself? What qualities do you often downplay or ignore? Self-awareness is the mirror through which self-acceptance begins to take shape.
