❤️ Building Self-Awareness and Self-Acceptance ❤️
Hello, Lovely Community!
Today is the Day-9 of our Self-Esteem Challenge. (The master post for the event is given here ). We will be focusing on the concept of Self-awareness and Self-acceptance which can help us in getting to know ourselves better, and also help us in building our self-esteem. ❤️
Let us know your thoughts and answers to the questions/ icebreaker below, in this thread! 
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Self-awareness is when we observe and focus our attention on ourselves by being honest as well as introspective so that we can focus on the reality of our emotions and behavior. Self-acceptance is all about having a realistic awareness of our inner voice which helps us in recognizing that we all can make mistakes being imperfect, as well as we have the ability to attain noteworthy accomplishments. Evaluation of self helps in understanding the reasons behind our actions and working on changing the aspects of oneself which needs improvement, leading to acceptance of oneself.
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Focusing on our mind and body, allows us to sensibly evaluate what we receive from outside and what we offer from inside of ourselves. It enables us to pay attention to our feelings, thoughts, beliefs, sensations, reactions, triggers, needs, and habits. Concentrating the attention on oneself involves being aware of one's emotions, identifying them, accepting their presence, and understanding their impact. To develop a thoughtful mindset involving awareness and acceptance of self, some effort and time for reflection with self is required, but this mindset can help us in increasing our EQ, self-esteem, and empathy, making our life meaningful, opening ourselves to new opportunities as well as becoming the best version of ourselves, once we begin practicing it.
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We can learn to build Self-Awareness and Self-Acceptance within ourselves by practicing some activities, such as: Reflecting on our thoughts/emotions - Reflection brings perspective and understanding in our lives which helps to be aware; Monitoring our Self-Talk - Paying attention to what we say and think about ourselves, challenging any thought which is inappropriate/negative; Being open to Suggestions - Asking for feedback from supportive and trustworthy people; Sharing and considering perspectives - Making an attempt to view things from another's perspective and sharing our own perspectives; Noticing and reflecting what bothers you about others - Paying attention to the aspects of other people that irritates us. Evaluate whether it is really about their behavior or is it some quality in them that we disapprove of in ourselves, which is getting reflected back to us; Journaling - Recording our thoughts/emotions to identify, clarify and accept their presence; Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or yoga - These activities can help regulate our emotions, improving our physical and mental health.
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�❤️ Here are some questions to ponder! ❤️
1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
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Icebreaker: What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know! �
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Thanks to everyone in the team who have contributed ideas and content for this event. 
Team Contributors: @KristinHelps @Asruu @Starmedia
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@Starmedia This is such a great post! �
What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know! �
1. Be more productive: Though I agree that this hustle culture has its negative effects, I've realised that I've become way too comfortable doing things at my own pace, and that's led to things turning out... less great than expected (and mind you, I've even lowered the bar for myself quite a bit). I really need to get back into form!
2. Be more reflective: I also haven't given myself any time to think. I either overthink things or don't think enough, y'know? I need time to properly assess my actions, and whether I'm working towards a bigger goal and how far away from that I am at the moment.
3. Be more patient: growth and self-acceptance take time.
@caffeinatedcatio
Well you've already made a step towards your second goal as you're joining in with the Self-Esteem Challenge which calls for being self-reflective! Well done and good luck on your goals :)
1. It's not an 'alien' thing for people to over-estimate or underestimate themselves. Self-awareness helps us know ourselves for who we really are, and that helps us to be better planners.
2. Self acceptance can help us be happy. Just not that much, it helps us to stay content with ourselves, and get rid of perfectionism.
3. To be ourselves means to be our actual self; to know who we really are, and act like it.
ICEBREAKERS :-
1. Stop overthinking.
2. Know that words are just words.
3. Focus on healthier eating.
1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
Self-awareness is an important tool. When feeling overwhelmed, self-awareness helps us to deeply understand our capability.
2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
Self-acceptance helps by making me realise that I am not the way others potray me as, but what I see myself as. It also helps to increase the feeling of self-worth.
3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
To be ourselves is to accept not just the good parts of us, but also the flaws that we were born with.
Icebreaker: What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know!
To become a better version of myself, I will first need to work on the time I spend online and how I judge myself behind the screen. Secondly, to become physically fit, as well as, to not overwork and never neglect myself!
In the preamble, talking about self acceptance, the writer mentions "evaluation of self" and talks about how that helps us in "working and changing things that need improvement, leading to acceptance of oneself." IMHO, you should not have to improve things before you accept yourself. There should be no conditions placed on self acceptance. You shouldn't say I will accept myself when I loose some weight or finish school or get that job or whatever. Self acceptance should be unconditional. Just thought I'd put that out there.
1. Self awareness can help us stay grounded when we feel overwhelmed. Knowing ourselves, we know what our triggers are and the kinds of things that can soothe us.
2 Self acceptance can help unlock our motivation to make progress in our life because it means we're coming from a place of kindess. We're making the changes we want to make and not the ones others tell us we should be making.
3. To be ourselves means to be open and honest and authentic. It means making choices in line with our values and what we feel is important.
Three goals to become a better version of myself:
Be less emotionally reactive. Show myself more kindness. Spend more time outside.
@FrozenGhost
Showing yourself kindness is such a lovely goal! Good luck with it! <3
Contrary to striving to become a better person is the undoing of all the stuff that makes us feel and be less than we are. We become the best we can be by being the wholenss of who we truly are and not by slicing and dicing ourselves into a version of what we think is acceptable to others. SO the way forward is usually the way back.
Three goals then in becoming more whole:
Stop judging and rejecting myself
Live by my highest vales of love and kindness
Learn to trust
1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
When feeling overwhelmed, it is so easy to get caught up in the situation that is causing that overwhelm. Being self-aware allows us to take note of our emotions, thoughts and actions; acknowledging them and bringing the focus away from that overwhelming situation for a moment. This can provide some grounding as it can reduce the number of things you are unsure of which often leads to feeling overwhelmed and can provide a small win with self-care.
2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
Self-acceptance recognises where we are at! This gives us room to evaluate and see what steps we need to take to progress. It acknowledges the skills we have and are developing and provides a guide for what we attain. Having the confidence in our foundation and a plan on how to proceed can provide the motivation to progress.
3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
It is to be aware of who we are, what we've been through, where we are at and how that affects us. It is the ability to be comfortable with that and unrestrained from showing that. But it is also seeing your strengths, weaknesses and goals and owning those parts of you.
Icebreaker: What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know!
1. Prioritise mental and physical self-care.
2. Schedule my days to elicit more productivity.
3. Do more fun things that can be an outlet!
What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know!
>> Belive in myself and focus on being postive. Be best version of myself.
>> Three things I want to work on:
◾ Focus on diet and weight
◾ Sleep better
◾ Be more positively
1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
Self-awareness can help us be more aware of the positives, not just the negatives.
2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
Self-acceptance can allow us to progress because we are accepting of where we are and the fact that we want to get to a certain point.
3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
Being ourselves means being who we are on the inside and displaying that on the outside.
@Starmedia
1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
When I'm overwhelmed, I can use my self awareness to reasses whats really happening - am I being triggered, and if so, which of my inner children is present and feels unsafe. �
2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
Self acceptance can help unlock motivation because I can accept that I am imperfectly perfect...and I can decide to work on the areas of my life where I feel energised
3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
To be ourselves, we can feel comfortable with ourselves. Having awareness of myself and not letting my Ego take over. �
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Icebreaker: What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know! �
1. I want to learn about Yogic breathing techniques this year - this will help my anxiety. �
2. I'm trying to practice creativity and mindfullness...being in the moment, not trying to always control results and to just explore what feels good. �
3. I recently started jogging and am determined to keep it up, even on days when I really dont feel like it :-)
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@Starmedia
�1) How can self-awareness help us stay grounded when feeling overwhelmed?
By practising mindfulness, journaling our thoughts and emotions
�2) How can self-acceptance help us unlock our motivation to make progress in our life?
Accepting, not stressing and making peace with things I can't change avoiding comparing myself with others instead focusing that energy into figuring where I would like to go.
�3) What does it mean to be ourselves?
Being comfortable in our abilities, our skin, doing out own thing around people and being okay with ourselves.
�Icebreaker: What can you do to become a better version of yourself and what are three goals that you can set to work on yourself? Let us know! heart
1. Do some kind of mind training meditation daily
2. Create a new side project
3. Celebrate the small wins, accept help
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