Radical Self-Acceptance Starts Here

For the past few years I’ve been wrestling with the ideas connected with the constant yearning we all have to be “better” than we already are.

Better. Thinner. Smarter. Happier. Healthier. Wealthier. Cleaner. Faster. Savvier. Sexier.

Better. Than. Who?

This battle within me is because I am stubborn. I stubbornly refuse to believe I am not enough exactly as I am. I am enough. So are you.

The battle continues though, because while we know we are already enough (we really do, right?) we simply must persist to be exceptional in order to create successes. This is a truth.

But let’s reflect on what exceptional means. It does not mean be thinner, smarter, happier, wealthier, cleaner, faster, savvier, sexier. It does not mean anything ending with ‘er’.

You are already imperfectly perfect.

Sure, there is no need to be complacent about health and lower the limits on how full you can fill your life.

But you already have the tools you need to do everything you wish to do.

You do not need to be bettER. You are enough.

So am I!

So, today, as I launch Truth& tonic, after 5 years of falling in love with myself through MPowered Marketing, you will discover my new mission.

Radical Self-Acceptance.

If you are willing to practice radical self-acceptance with me, then we can carry on with your business mission with grit and gusto.

I invited some brilliant and brave women I admire to share their insights into what radical self-acceptance means and how to get it…

Melody Biringer, CRAVE founder, says: My favorite thing to do to remind myself of who I am is to refer to my 100 things I CRAVE list. I have been working on this list for over 7 years. I have been really picky on what I add to it because it is who I am at the core. I just turned it into a private Pinterest board and this has changed my life:) It reminds me of who I am and what I value. On those down days when things are not going as planned it reminds me to remember self LOVE. If we can remember that our closest friends reflect to us how they see us and the sooner we buy into seeing ourselves they way others see us the better. I think as women we tend towards self doubt more often than radical self acceptance….what’s up with that! I am loving my new Pinterest board to pull me up and remind me what I love, what my passions are. I found my love through the marshmallow this last year (long story) #whatsyourmarshmallow

 

Aly Pain, leadership coach says: Radical Self-Acceptance comes from changing my ambitious focus from “what more can I do?” and “what is the next step toward my dream?” I pause, take a breath and look around. I notice what I have accomplished so far, and STOP downplaying it for f**k sake!! Own it, feel it and allow gratitude for all of it and everyone involved in getting me to here. When I soften to that, I am more compassionate and authentic, two keys to radical happiness AND success in creating my dream.

Melsha Shea, imperfectly perfect blogger, says: My lesson here – ACCEPTANCE. Accept that this is going to be a process. Accept that I’m not perfect. Accept that it’s going to take time to get to where I want my body to go. Accept that in this moment I am vulnerable and uncomfortable. Acceptance has been a key ingredient to how far I’ve come and much further I’m going to go.

Holly Kile, business strategist, HJK Global Solutions says: Success sounds easy but it’s a lot of work. It’s not so much the daily work you have to do. It’s the deep down, soul stirring, you-can-do-this kind of work. Being successful is more than just saying “I’m good at what I do.” It’s not even about saying “I’m great at what I do.” It’s about saying AND believing that every fiber of your being is aligned with your passion and your purpose and that have been granted everything you need to get “there” (wherever “there” is for you) even those parts that you think aren’t “the best.” It’s all those parts together that make up the whole–that very successful whole–of who you are.

Vanessa McWilliams, alopecia champion & founder Confident Curls, says: Happiness and success are things that everyone yearns for and strives to achieve. Yet most people believe that with one will come the other. People assume that once they become successful, they will be happy. What they don’t realize is that happiness comes from within, and you should strive for happiness… success arrives.

Kim Flanagan, stylist on a mission, says: Don’t wait for perfect. Don’t wait for weight. Don’t wait to love yourself. Don’t believe the shadows. They are wrong and you are wasting your time. And Kim quotes Marilyn Monroe (perfectly perfect): “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”

You are enough. Radical self-acceptance. Let’s do this!