Self-acceptance is something that is very valuable and important in our society. Everyone is told growing up to be themselves and to not let anyone tell you who you can and cannot be. On the other hand, growing up you are surrounded by all of these social norms and expectations that people expect of you, that you aren’t sure whether being yourself would live up to those expectations or not. No one likes to be a let down, or have someone disappointed in them so people pretend to be someone they are not. This puts stress on that individual because they’re struggling to find their identity and who they are while at the same time are given so many restrictions by media and society.
For example, people have certain standards for me; they expect me to be happy and bubbly like I usually am, but God forbid I have a bad day or I’m not feeling myself, they automatically categorize me as a bitch or as depressed. If you’re too nice or in too good of a mood, people will consider you as fake or too annoying. Regardless of who you are, there are always flaws and people telling you that you can’t be that way. It creates so many problems, and because media is so popular in today’s culture, it makes finding yourself and your identity a lot harder since there is so much stress to be like someone else. Instead of people embracing who they are, what they believe in, or how they want to dress/act, social norms tell them how to act based off of their gender, family background, and the people they aspire to be, when instead they could be mixing all of those factors together to create a unique individual.
You should never worry about being judged for what you do, or care about what people say about you because everywhere you go is a new chapter in life, where you will meet new people who will form totally different opinions about you than those you have come across previously. Instead, embrace those flaws and qualities that make you who you are as a person and do what makes you happy. Be who you are, and never let anybody tell you that you need to change, or that you’re not perfect in your own way!