Self Acceptance

Hi, Friends, did you enjoy a weekend?
Blog friends ask me, "How could you be always so positive?" To answer that question, I'll chat over "self-acceptance." "Unconditional self-acceptance" is the most precious insight I've learnt from psychology at uni. In short, with self-acceptance, I've become a happy and positive person! Today, it helps me accept myself and others in daily life.

Self acceptance is not easy, if a person does not understand who s/he is well. I come across so many people blaming on themselves too much or demanding themselves too much. Consider this question; do you want to "draw like Michelangelo"? Sure, all of us say, "No." But in fact, we tend to demand ourselves too much at a varied level in daily life. It hurts an individual deeply and ruins  self-esteem.

Art work is, indeed, a person's inner world and a relation with an outside world. It's a tragedy that a person struggles to paint like a famous artist and flawless. It's really sad that a person never gets satisfied with what s/he has created (actually not bad, nice!). A person repeatedly boasts old stories and lives in the past. S/he always curses at her/himself and consequently gets depressed. But a person tends to be blind to her/himself or hardly has an objective view. In other words, people harm themselves endlessly.

It's very a pain for a third party to see self harming people. As if bleeding people were hitting their heads against a huge same wall again and again, criticizing themselves dreadfully. Or people rigidly demand themselves more than they do/can. Or people do not appreciate what they do/can. Or people have a fear of a third party or an outside world or themselves. Or contradictorily, people have huge pride although they lack genuine confidence etc, etc. Too judgemental. Irrational thoughts depress people. Self acceptance can change those attitudes above, I've learnt.

The point of self-acceptance is to know who we are, become what we are fully. It requires honesty and courage to face our reality. But, if we only prefer what we want/desire in ourselves, it's not "unconditional." "Unconditional" is critically important -- whatever we did/do or despite the facts, if we love ourselves, it maximises our abilities. Then, we will bloom out what we have fully.  Let us chuck perfectionism into a bin! We, only human. Why not make mistakes? In my view, forgiveness is nearly equal self acceptance ; healthy self-love enables us to love others properly. That is the ultimate beauty of human behaviour, isn't it? I "joyfully" make mistakes and enjoy them all and learn a lot! (Does it make sense? I hope my sloppy English will make sense.)  

I hope I will create "Sadami's" picture books, not like any other illustrators's styles. Good news! I finished up the education picture book with Australian Council. The top and a team's feedback is "Excellent!" Happy surprise! Australian Council has kindly organised a courier to pick up my work this week. Yey!!
The trade picture book project is right on a track. I'll just do my best. 
Friends, please, never, ever hurt yourself. You're precious and beautiful, because you're you! Let's enjoy our lives fully and have fun in drawing.
Happy Painting!!    
(*The sketch above was a guest speaker at a church meeting. A psychologist and community worker for women's mental health. The speaker kindly gave me her favorite say, "Change thoughts(=attitude). Change Your World!" spot on!)


 

Self Acceptance