Accept Differences

So easy to say, so difficult to do. Few of us are truly secure enough with ourselves to freely accept others as they are as well. The key in this, then, may lie in first of all accepting ourselves—not to say that we aren’t always trying to improve and progress—but simply to say, “Where I am for today is okay.” Then perhaps we can say for others, “Where you are for today is okay.”

It is possibly more difficult to accept differences in ourselves than in others. We might be able to accept global differences—race, culture, religion, gender, for instance—but what about the more subtle and personally defining differences? Are we able to interact with others and not compare ourselves? Our appearances? Our social status? Our career paths? Our financial standing? Our family stability? How we keep house or raise our children? How we lead our Networks or handle our work responsibilities?

Again, the key to being able to meet others without fear, criticism, judgment, or animosity toward them and more importantly toward ourselves, is to accept the individual differences that exist in us all.