Hey there. We hear it all the time—just love yourself. But for many people, especially those on a weight loss or fitness journey, jumping straight to self-love can feel impossible. If you’ve spent years struggling with how you see yourself, trying to force self-love can feel like just another thing you’re failing at.
That’s why I believe the first step isn’t self-love. It’s self-acceptance.
Self-acceptance is looking at yourself—really looking at yourself in the mirror—and saying, “This is where I am. And I’m moving forward.” No negativity. No qualifiers. No “but” statements. Just a simple acknowledgment that you are here, and you’re taking steps in the right direction.
This shift in mindset is so important. If you’ve spent years tearing yourself down, suddenly flipping a switch to self-love isn’t realistic. But accepting where you are? That’s something you can do today. And over time, self-acceptance can lead to self-like, which can eventually grow into self-love.
The relationship you have with yourself determines so much about your journey. Whether it’s weight loss, fitness, or any other challenge, you have to be on the same team with yourself. You’re with yourself every moment of every day. Your inner dialogue matters. If you’re constantly criticizing yourself, it’s going to be tough to stay consistent with anything. But if you can shift to self-acceptance, it changes everything.
So how can you practice self-acceptance today? Maybe it’s stopping yourself when negative thoughts creep in and replacing them with neutral ones. Maybe it’s looking in the mirror and simply acknowledging where you are without judgment. Maybe it’s reminding yourself that progress doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
I’d love to hear how you’re working on self-acceptance this week. Reach out on social or send me an email and let me know.
And if you want support in shifting your mindset and building a sustainable, preference-based approach to health and fitness, check out The YLF Experience.