The Curious Paradox โ Change Is Easy When I Accept Myself Just as I Am
The Curious Paradox โ Change Is Easy When I Accept Myself Just as I AmMany people want to change to overcome bad habits, prejudice, and bias. To do this, you must accept who you are. Acknowledging who we are gives us the right mindset for positive change. Are you ready for this exercise? The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. โ Carl R. Rogers This observation by Carl Rogers is an important nugget of psychological wisdom. It's the key to change. It pinpoints why it's hard to make positive changes. The reason? We don't accept and understand our current state. Once we can do this, growth and change are much easier. Imagine trying to find your way to a destination when you don't know where you are now. That is the crux of the curious paradox of change. Even if you have a map, you can't get there. You must know where you are now to get to where you want to go. It's perfectly okay to start with goals and plans in mind, but you must also accept your current situation.
Change is Easy When I Accept Myself
Self-acceptance is not the same as ego-edification. (1) Ego-edification is when you are under the control of your ego. When the ego is in control, you think and behave in ways with automatic, programmed reactions. When you accept yourself as you are, you see this programming, and so you can change it. Come as you are, as you were As I want you to be As a friend, as a friend As an old enemy. โ Kurt Cobain To do this, we must observe ourselves without judgment because judging is like putting on blinders. Everyone can do this. To take off the blinders requires forgiveness and courage.
