Growing up the number one thing I have always struggled with is being able to accept myself not only who I am but for how God made me. I always believed that the way my family, friends, or even strangers saw me is how I was and how I looked. Little did I know this wasn't true. Yes, somethings that they said about me is true. I am smart and caring and understanding. However, fat and ugly and irresponsible were things I was not. Not only did I learn that self acceptance is more important than anyone else's acceptance, I want others to know this as well.

According to Dictionary.com, self-acceptance is the fact or state of being accepting or accepted by one's self. To me self-acceptance is being able to look in the mirror and see all the good things about who I am and where I am going. We typically live our lives trying to meet the expectations of others. Stop! Stop trying to make everyone else happy and for once make yourself happy. So what if you have glasses, braces, freckles, scars, or crazy colored hair. Those things don't define who you are. They are just characteristics of you. Those are just a few of the things that make you who you are! For example, I have a huge scar on my right arm from an accident I had when I was little. Growing up I always heard how ugly and scary looking it was. It use to hurt me. Now when I looked at my scar I see a second chance at life as well as a story of what I have been through. It makes me stronger not weaker.

Being able to love, forgive and accept yourself as a person is very important. We all make mistakes. Big mistake, little mistakes we all have made mistakes in our lives. I believe the reason that we as people have such a hard time with self-acceptance is because we want others to accept us and forgive us and love us just the way we are. In reality there will always be people who do not like you. There will always be people who do not forgive you.You cannot allow this to beat you up. Coming to reality with the fact that not everyone will like you is important. Once you can accept this it will be easier for you to accept yourself.

The problem with today's youth and young adults is we always want to be accepted by everyone. Do you know who we should be worried about impressing? Ourselves and God. We were made the way we are for reasons. We were not made this way just for fun. Everyone is their own individual and once we can learn to accept that life becomes easier. I know for me I became happier once I learned my weight doesn't matter unless it is for health reasons. I learned I am smart even if my grades do not always reflect it. I am successful. I am going to go far in life as long as I keep a positive mindset. Self-acceptance is always and forever will be more important than acceptance from others.