Chapter 7 - The Six Pillars of Self Esteem
Here is a reading (and fun commentary) of Chapter 7 from Nathaniel Branden's The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem all about Self-Acceptance. Love this one because its a notion that sounds scary but it's so simple when you get to the core of it: having respect for reality. Wish some of our parents could listen to this, what a fun world that would be.
If you're a fan of journal prompts, here are the sentence completion exercises laid out in this chapter:
WEEK 1
Mornings:
self-acceptance to me means...
If I am more accepting of my body...
When I deny and disown my body
If I am more accepting of my conflicts
Evenings:
When I deny or disown my conflicts
if I am more accepting of my feelings
When I deny or disown my feelings
If I am more accepting of my thoughts
when I deny or disown my thoughts..
WEEK 2
Mornings:
If I am more accepting of my actions
when I deny or disown my actions
I am becoming more aware...
Evenings:
If I am willing to be realistic about my assets and shortcomings
If I am more accepting of my fears
When I deny or disown my fears
WEEK 3
Mornings:
If I am more accepting of my pain
When I deny or disown my pain
If I am more accepting of my anger
when I deny or disown my anger
Evenings:
If I am more accepting of my sexuality
When I deny or disown my sexuality
If I am more accepting of my excitement
When I deny or disown my excitement
WEEK 4
Mornings:
If I am more accepting of my joy
When I deny or disown my joy
If I am willing to see what I see and know what I know
Evenings:
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my fears
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my pain
WEEK 5
Mornings:
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my anger
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my sexuality
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my excitement
If I bring a high level of consciousness to my joy
Evenings:
when I think of the consequences of not accepting myself...
If I accept the fact that what is, Is, regardless of whether or not I admit it...
I am beginning to see that...
