Ask yourself this question: “If I accepted myself as I am, how would my life change?”

Would you feel free? Would you stop making excuses for why you can't do "such and such" and actually do it? Would you stop hiding and start shining? Would you get out and meet a man or have fun with friends? Would you start exercising and get the body you DO want for summer?

I know for me, I free up a lot of time! If I can squelch the negative chatter box, I have a lot of free time to take action on what I want in my life.

I accept that I’m not perfect and I’m not trying to be. I try to be the best version of me I can.

For a long time I was not willing to accept myself. Why? I wasn’t willing to let go of being a victim and blaming others for my shortcomings. If I accepted myself as I was, then I had to take responsibility for myself, my actions, my thoughts and my feelings.

Scary! You mean I have to do something, stick my neck out for what I really want and (gulp) take responsibility for the success or the failure of it!!!!????

Ah, yeah. If you want the life you say you want, then you must take responsibility. I still go down the wrong path now and again, think negative thoughts or have bad days. I totally do. 

So what do I do when my mind gets snarky and isn’t as accepting of me as I’d like? I used to eat or procrastinate or watch TV to squish it down. Now I acknowledge the thought and say “Thanks for showing up snark attack, but today I’m not listening to you.” Then I say three things I’m grateful for about myself and move on...get into action.

Let me give you an example. Snarky says “I hate my thighs, why are they so fat?” (Side note, would we ever talk this way to our best friend? YIKES!) Then I say “I am grateful for my legs that run with my dog, for my strong lungs that let me breathe and my strong heart that loves a lot of people very dearly.” Then I might journal or walk the dog or get on with what I was doing.

Acceptance + Letting Go + Taking Responsibility = A Life You Love!

Are you willing to accept, let go and take responsibility so you can have a life you love?