“The greatest gift we can give ourselves and the world
is to fully accept ourselves for who we really are,
warts, imperfections, mistakes and all.
From each part, comes
value and contribution to those we serve.”
~ Renée Blasky, The LEAP Network, LLC

5 March 2020

Dear Renée,

I have faced self-esteem issues in the past. It’s my least favorite place to be because it brings up all these negative emotions. One time I felt insecure and insignificant due to my lack of employment and not having any income I could call my own. But a more noteworthy time was when I was not being able to forgive myself for taking unkind actions against a person whom I had loved. I was only thinking of me, the hurt I was facing, not the damage I was causing the other person. The feelings of shame I associated with this circumstance haunted me for years. How could I have done such a thing?  This person was really hurt as a result. 

Have you ever felt this?  You thought you were one thing, to only realize you had another side of you that showed its ugly head? It wasn’t until I truly embraced the feelings of shame and embarrassment that I was able to understand why I did it and was able to forgive myself.   Every once in a while these feelings still come back to me causing me to go through the healing and forgiveness process all over again.  I’ve learned self-acceptance is an ongoing process or journey.  I now look at this process as a “love gift” to myself; it helps me become more aware of the additional work I need to do on becoming a better person.  Thankfully, it’s worth the journey. 

Do you struggle with accepting and forgiving yourself?

Taking the LEAP with you!

Self-Acceptance is an Action

Imagine you are standing in front of a full-length mirror. Naked, totally exposed. You are asked to gaze at yourself for two minutes, fully accepting your body, your beauty, your imperfections, your mind and all your contributions to the world.

Now take a quick inventory of the feelings aroused by this suggestion. Did you feel curious, excited or ashamed or afraid? Interested or hesitant? Willing or unwilling? Did you discredit your awesomeness? Or did you reject the whole idea as something you would absolutely never do? Imagining the experience gives you an indication of your level of self-acceptance; actually doing it will tell you even more.

Self-acceptance is an action; it is something we do, not just something we feel. To say “I value myself” is an act of self-affirmation providing a base from which self-esteem develops.

When we practice self-acceptance we don’t have to condone or even like everything about ourselves. In fact, it’s almost certain we won’t. What it does mean is we recognize and accept our thoughts, our actions, our emotions, our bodies, our dreams — everything about us — as our own.  We can also forgive ourselves for any harm or injury we have caused.“But I don’t want to be insecure and fearful (or afraid or judgmental or angry or fat or old or alcoholic or unkind or any of a dozen other things),” someone might say. “If I accept that about myself, it means I don’t want to change. Or I won’t change.”

Here’s the paradox: without acceptance of what is, it is impossible to change.

When we deny any part of ourselves we name that part alien or outside of ourselves. To say, “I don’t want to be _________, therefore I won’t accept that I am,” is self-rejection, the opposite of self-acceptance. To say, “I don’t want to be ________, but I am and I am willing to change,” is the kind of self-acceptance that gives birth to transformation.

Forgiveness, healing, and growth can only enter when awareness and acceptance open the door. According to Nathaniel Branden, author of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, “Nothing does so much for an individual’s self-esteem as becoming aware of and accepting disowned parts of the self.”

Keep reading to learn about how to be more self-accepting.

Challenge
Can you totally, without hesitation, accept and love yourself for who you are right now?  Can you be your own cheerleader?

750 Words

This service is beneficial for those who want to start journaling, perhaps to help you discover and improve your self-worth.

750 words represent approximately three pages; it can take as little as 20 minutes or more than an hour, depending on your ability to let it rip! Your daily entry (or however many you want in a week) can be about anything and everything that comes into your head. It’s all about getting it all out of your head, so you can release it.  It is not supposed to be edited or censored in any way – just free, uninhibited writing. The idea is to make it a habit so it can help clear your mind, get you UNSTUCK and in the FLOW!

What makes this site unique is the analysis of your mindset based on what you wrote during each session. Are you happy overall? Are you looking forward to the future, or reliving past memories? This type of analysis can be helpful to bring awareness to the needed changes in the way you think to accomplish what you want. After all, you get what you focus on! Click here to find this and other awesome resources. 

FREE GIFT
If you know it's time for a change in a specific area of your life, but you aren't sure how to make it happen, this is for you - Courage, Risks and Reward: Taking a Chance to Change Your Life -  a 5-part Coaching Program compliments of The LEAP Network! Click here to download the program.

COMPLIMENTARY REINVENT STRATEGY SESSION

Join me in a one-hour complimentary strategy session to help determine how you can move forward in getting unstuck, and gain momentum to move in the right direction for you.

During our session, we will go over one or two exercises and determine the one next step you can take on your own after the call to keep the momentum going. Click here to schedule your session

Renée Blasky is the Founder and CEO of The LEAP Network Ltd.

She wasn’t always the risk-taking entrepreneur that she is today. Through several important life experiences, including being an "expat" for the vast majority of her life and sailing an ocean, she learned the importance and benefits of risk-taking and how to embrace risk rather than fear it! Renée also realized capturing life’s fulfillment meant giving back to others. So, she started her second business: The LEAP Network in order to share her experiences and expertise with entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs.  This includes "trailing spouses", stay-at-home parents or elderly caregivers who have sacrificed their careers due to circumstances beyond their control.  Renée coaches existing entrepreneurs on ways to monetize their passion, revitalize their businesses and take action to grow their businesses.  She coaches those who have sacrificed their careers, either by choice or by uncontrolled circumstances, to eliminate frustration, boredom, and loneliness while becoming more fulfilled and happy!  By helping them start their own online businesses, they can get their identity back, boost their self-esteem and once again be financially independent!

Learn more about Renée and The LEAP Network by visiting her website here: www.theleapnetwork.coachesconsole.com.

You can also send an email directly to Renée at:  rkblasky@theleapnetwork.co (not “.com”)

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