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Self acceptance and self esteem are two separate functions. We can still accept ourselves
while still trying to do better to meet our values.
Self acceptance has no standards or values, and it needs no justification. We can have self
acceptance no matter what we do.

We justify our self esteem by affirming that our behaviour corresponds to our values.

We can explore our projections and the repressions from which the projections arise. The traits
that we do not accept in other people are the traits that we do not accept in ourselves. If we
feel anger toward our rowdy neighbours, part of that anger can be our envy of their wildness if
we have not accepted the wild streak in ourselves.

We acknowledge that the world exists as it is, despite our preferences to the contrary. If we feel
that life has purposes and meanings and values that are greater than those that we can
comprehend and which are all for our ultimate benefit, we trust the process. If we do this we
relinquish the stress causing notion that we are somehow responsible for the universe.
Therefore we do not become opinionated and judgmental.

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know
the difference, living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.
Taking this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to your
will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. AMEN

“Of all the judgements we pass in life none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.
The most empowering thoughts you can have are those of peace, joy, love, acceptance and
willingness. Powerful, joyful, loving thoughts stem from your willingness to allow the world to be as
it is and acceptance of that. Your feelings are your feelings, accept them don’t deny them. -

The Six Pillars of Self Worth (Nathaniel Branden)

Acceptance is the key to so many things, so many problems and self-made problems in our own
lives. Whether it be accepting others who are different than you are, or the fact of some
betrayal; whether it be accepting the changing winds of fortune and fate, or of the fickle
nature of love -- ACCEPT IT. If you cannot change it, then why not accept it? That is one of the
keys to life's happiness - and to reducing strife with others. Loves will come and leave; people
will be born and die. Terrible tragedies will befall us in our lifetimes. THESE THINGS ARE
NATURAL, AND YOU CAN DO NOTHING TO CHANGE THEM. Therefore, it is up to you to learn to
accept them, to help those others when you can, if you can, and to leave the rest alone.

Acceptance can be hard to stomach sometimes, especially when it comes to accepting the
harder things in our lives. I have been cheated and lied to many times in this life. I can accept
that, and that some people are prone to that type of behaviour. Therefore, I accept them like
that. I know that they may sometimes be lying to me; therefore, I examine what they say more
carefully. But do I like them any the less, or refuse to be friends with them because of it?
No. I merely accept that they have this human weakness and are prone to it; they have not
changed in any other way.