“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” —George Eliot

Most of us have difficulty accepting ourselves, whether we expect negative judgment from others or focus on our own mistakes and shortcomings. And for many, being hard on yourself is thought to be the appropriate motivation for doing better. This and other myths keep us operating behind the eight ball, always trying to catch up to a fantasy.

You can strive to be better, but in this moment, you can’t be anything other than who you are. Choosing to accept and love yourself seeds the path forward for personal transformation.

Every journey, whether it's a physical journey like climbing a mountain or a personal journey like self-improvement, begins with understanding where you are right now—an honest appraisal.

It's like looking at a map to figure out your starting point before planning your route. This initial recognition is crucial because it sets the stage for progress. Acceptance of where you are is like planting your feet in the ground, to most effectively push off and thrust forward. Accepting where you stand is the first step in developing a healthy and strong foundation and grounding.

Beyond acceptance, knowing where you stand makes........

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