Self-acceptance involves living with one's own flaws and mistakes.
Originating from the Latin term acceptatio , the concept of acceptance refers to the action and effect of accepting . This verb, in turn, is related to approving , accepting or receiving something voluntarily and without opposition .
Acceptance can be used as a synonym for meaning , although currently the use of this term is limited to the different meanings that a word can have according to the context in which it appears.
In the field of law , acceptance is the act or by which a payment order contained in a check or bill of exchange is assumed. On the other hand, acceptance of the inheritance is the act, whether express or tacit, by which the heir assumes the rights, assets and burdens of his inheritance.
Acceptance according to psychology
Despite all these definitions, the idea of acceptance appears closely linked to psychology and self-help . In this sense, the concept refers to a person learning to live with their mistakes; that is, accepting their past. In this way, they will be able to face the future with a new perspective and take advantage of the opportunities that life offers.
It is around this idea of accepting the past that much of the human problem revolves, since consciously or unconsciously, we tend to get trapped in our childhood traumas , which hinders our development. Generally, when we talk about serious childhood disorders, the topics that first come to mind are sexual abuse and other types of physical and psychological aggression, such as attacks by an alcoholic father on his children.
However, all experiences leave a mark on our brain, and in most cases it is the less noticeable ones that hinder our adult life the most. Being born from the union of two people who do not love or respect each other, who are together for material interest, can condition the happiness of a child; even if there is no obvious aggression on the part of their parents, having as a first reference an unhappy couple negatively influences one's own sentimental experience.
Many people wonder why their lives seem empty and unsatisfying, and the answer is always inside them, in their past; to find it, it is necessary to review all memories , however insignificant they may seem at first glance, and search through them for others that have become less clear over the years.
Acceptance of others requires tolerance and respect.
Tolerance
Acceptance can also be directed towards other people, with a similar meaning: accepting their errors and mistakes , privileging the good over those issues that cause pain. A distinction is usually made between accepting another's ideas and sharing them: in the first case, it is not necessary to agree, although there is a limit marked by decency and morality; on the other hand, sharing clearly indicates that one thinks the same way.
Regarding this last meaning, the term tolerance is often used in a similar way, and there is a thin layer of negativity surrounding it that is usually ignored. Especially in issues related to sexuality and religion , acceptance seems to be synonymous with repressing the aggression caused by differences in order to achieve peaceful coexistence , as opposed to a true understanding of the richness that diversity represents.
Acceptance as physical approval
Acceptance can even refer to physical approval , when a subject has to learn to accept his or her body as it is and avoid feeling depressed about it.
Dysmorphophobia is a disorder that prevents an individual from looking at themselves objectively; instead, they see their defects in the foreground and magnify them. The consequences of this illness are very varied, although the fear of going out and being seen by others is usually a common denominator.