Embracing All Parts of Ourselves: A Journey to Self-Acceptance
You know how I say that our moment-to-moment choices are our creations? Well, this blog is a deep dive into one of the biggest choices we can make—choosing to embrace all parts of ourselves, even the ones we’ve been subtly pushing away.
I tuned into the energy of self-acceptance, and the question that came through was:
What parts of self are ready for me to fully embrace?
It’s such a simple question on the surface, but wow—it can really open up some big discoveries. So let’s talk about what it means to fully embrace all parts of ourselves, why we resist doing it, and how we can move through that resistance with more love and compassion.
The Subtleness of Pushing Away
When I first sat with this question, nothing really came to mind. At first, I thought, “Hey, I’ve done a lot of inner work, I’ve embraced all my parts, right?” But then I realized there were aspects of me that I’d been *sneakily* pushing away.
It wasn’t anything obvious, like a strong dislike for a particular trait or habit. No, it was much more subtle than that. These parts of me weren’t being dramatically rejected—they were just being quietly asked to sit over in the corner, out of the way. Have you ever done that? Where you think you’ve accepted something about yourself, but really, you’ve just tucked it away so you don’t have to look at it?
That’s where the real work began for me. I realized that these subtle rejections were still creating separation within me, and that’s why I hadn’t noticed them right away. They were sneaky, but they were still there, waiting to be seen and embraced.
Why Do We Resist Self-Acceptance?
So, why do we resist embracing all parts of ourselves? Sometimes it’s because those parts make us uncomfortable. Maybe they don’t fit the image of who we think we “should” be. Or maybe they carry old wounds or conditioning that we don’t want to revisit.
It could be as simple as a habit we don’t love, like procrastination, or as complex as an old emotional pattern that shows up in our relationships. Whatever it is, we tend to push these parts aside when we’re not ready to deal with them fully.
But here’s the thing—just because we’re not consciously rejecting these parts doesn’t mean we’re fully embracing them either. And it’s in this middle ground where they quietly sit, waiting for us to finally look at them with love.
A Personal Story: How Journaling Helped Me Embrace My “Sneaky” Parts
When I got stumped by this question, I turned to journaling, which is one of my go-to tools for inner work. I wrote the question at the top of the page— “What parts of self are ready for me to fully embrace?”—and then I just started free writing.
At first, what came out didn’t make much sense. It was a mix of random thoughts, like “My leg itches.” and “oooo tacos sound tasty!” But I didn’t judge it. I just let the thoughts flow. Sometimes, free writing brings out the most hilarious and unexpected thoughts when we’re not filtering ourselves. Which can then lead to some deep insights!
As I kept going, some deeper truths started to surface. I realized I’d been quietly avoiding parts of myself that felt a little too raw, too vulnerable. They weren’t huge issues, but they were subtle, like feelings of wanting to keep certain parts of me masked and hidden because they are “too weird” or believing that people won’t understand me in these ways. And instead of embracing these parts, I’d just been setting them aside, as if they weren’t important.
Once I acknowledged them, I realized how much love they needed. It wasn’t about fixing them or changing them—it was simply about holding them in a space of acceptance. That’s where the magic happened.
Universal Teachings of Wholeness
Across cultures and centuries, the wisdom of embracing the whole self has been a recurring theme. Indigenous teachings often highlight the importance of harmony within—the belief that every part of our being, including our shadow aspects, contributes to our wholeness. For example, in many Native American traditions, the medicine wheel symbolizes the interconnectedness of all aspects of life. Each quadrant represents a different part of the self—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and balance among these parts is seen as essential to well-being.
Similarly, ancient Eastern philosophies like Taoism teach that embracing duality—the yin and yang—is key to achieving inner harmony. These philosophies remind us that “dark” and “light” are not enemies but complementary forces that together create balance. When we resist or deny one side, we disrupt the flow of energy within ourselves. The wisdom here is clear: self-acceptance is not about perfection; it’s about integration.
The Psychology of Self-Acceptance
From a scientific perspective, the importance of self-acceptance is backed by research in psychology and neuroscience. Studies show that people who practice self-acceptance tend to experience lower levels of anxiety and depression and higher levels of life satisfaction. In fact, a study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that self-acceptance was one of the strongest predictors of overall happiness—even more so than self-esteem.
Another fascinating discovery is how self-compassion affects the brain. When we practice self-acceptance and compassion, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s natural “rest and digest” mode—which helps us feel calmer and more centered. On the flip side, self-criticism activates the threat-detection system, flooding our bodies with stress hormones like cortisol.
Here’s a powerful statistic: According to a survey by the University of Hertfordshire, only about 20% of people say they practice self-acceptance regularly. Imagine how much more empowered and connected we could all feel if that number were higher!
Practical Ways to Embrace the Parts of Yourself You’ve Been Avoiding
If you’re ready to dig in deeper, here are some practical ways to start embracing those hidden parts of yourself:
1. Free Write Without Judgment
Just like I did, grab a journal and write the question at the top of the page: What parts of self are ready for me to fully embrace? Then let your thoughts flow without trying to analyze or make sense of them. Some of it may seem random (if you’re hungry you may get something about tacos… who knows!), but don’t worry—just keep going. You might surprise yourself with what comes up.
2. Mirror Work
Stand in front of the mirror and look yourself in the eyes. Say out loud, “I accept all parts of myself.” It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if there are parts of you that you’ve been resisting. But keep going. The more you practice, the more those hidden parts will start to feel safe being seen. *Bonus step if you name the parts of you, you’ve been avoiding and say, “I accept x. X is worthy of love.”
3. Meditation with Compassion
During your next meditation (this could be in stillness or active meditation), focus on embracing all parts of yourself. Imagine a warm, loving light surrounding those parts that feel disconnected. This could be an emotion, a habit, or a belief you’ve struggled with. As you sit with it, visualize yourself wrapping it in love and compassion.
4. Talk to a Trusted Friend
Sometimes, speaking your truth out loud to a trusted friend or support group can help you see things more clearly. Vulnerability can open the door to deeper self-acceptance. You may even realize that others have similar experiences, which can create a sense of unity and connection.
Bringing It All Together
Self-acceptance is quite the adventure and there will always be new parts of ourselves ready to be embraced as we grow and evolve. The key is to approach this journey with love, patience, and curiosity. When we allow ourselves to explore the parts that we’ve subtly pushed away, we make room for deeper authenticity and a fuller expression of who we truly are.
I hope this question and these practices help you on your own path of expansion and loving all of you. Remember, there’s no rush, and there’s no “right” way to do this. Your journey is yours, and I trust that you’ll approach it in the way that serves you best.
Love to you, always.
*I HIGHLY recommend checking out Native and Indigenous sources to do a deeper dive into the topic covered. The very short paragraph included here has the intention to bring awareness to this perspective, but not speak for it. Please check out more in depth information directly from the source!
