Self acceptance

Self-acceptance , also self-acceptance or acceptance of oneself , is in the sense of the Aristotelian Mesotes doctrine that virtue in the middle of selfishness and self-denial (related: self -denial , Nietzsche : self-flight).

In this sense, it is also largely, but not entirely, synonymous with terms such as self-love , self-respect , self -care , self-confidence, and self-worth .

Self-acceptance or self-acceptance includes the ability to self-criticize , a sense of humor , flexibility and zest for life . A lack of self-acceptance causes a constant search for recognition, too much self-acceptance leads to arrogance .

The main philosophers of self-acceptance are Romano Guardini and Paul Tillich ( natural self-affirmation , paradoxical self-acceptance ).

Christianity is the religion that makes correctly understood self-denial not a contradiction, but a prerequisite for self-acceptance. (cf. Mt. 16:24). Self-denial is then no real opposite of self-love but of narcissism (up to pathological narcissism ). Those who are in love with themselves lose sight of life in the world and their followers. The linguistic subtle difference between denial (“does not exist”) and denial (“I don't know”) is more clearly evident in the Christian context in relation to the self .

On this ascetic question, Christian and Buddhist teachings largely agree, also in the fact that self-acceptance presupposes contemplation on God or the divine, but not on whether this presupposes a personal or a non-personal image of God. While Guardini speaks christian that only those who know God and man knows, there is no equivalent to buddhist.

See also

• Self-image
• Assertion
• Self-actualization
• Self-confidence
• Self help
• Self-knowledge
• Mental hygiene

literature

• Romano Guardini: The acceptance of oneself , Würzburg 1952
• Paul Tillich: Review of Erich Fromm, The Sane Society , in: Pastoral Psychology, New York 6, 1955, pp. 13-16
• Christiane Tietz : Freedom to oneself. Development of a Christian concept of self-acceptance , Göttingen 2005
• Walter Trobisch:
  • Love yourself. Self-acceptance and melancholy , Wuppertal (20) 1991
  • Love yourself. Ways to self-acceptance, Wuppertal (24th, revised) 1998
• Anja Wagner: The importance of childhood for the personal development of young adults. Ways to Accept Yourself from the Light of Faith , 1999
• Tara Brach: With the heart of a Buddha. Healing Paths to Self-Acceptance and Joy of Life , Munich 2005; 2006
• Friederike Potreck-Rose: Self-care, self-acceptance, self-confidence. Psychotherapeutic interventions to build self-esteem , Stuttgart 2003; 2006
• Astrid Schütz : Psychology of self-esteem from self-acceptance to arrogance , Stuttgart 2000; 2003