[Book Sip] 'If You Want to Live Well as Your True Self'... You Must Practice Self-Acceptance

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader's heart and create a connection with the book. Here, we introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor's note

This book depicts the process of people who struggled with self-acceptance due to various unchangeable reasons such as not being rich, lacking academic background, or having severe inferiority complex, finding their true selves and identity through counseling. The experience of acceptance refers to being acknowledged and embraced that the emotions and thoughts I felt at a specific situation and time are understandable, regardless of right or wrong, or good or bad. The author, a counseling therapist with 40 years of experience, points out that those who grow up receiving sufficient acceptance from their parents in childhood become emotionally rich as adults and can easily recognize and accept their shortcomings. However, those without such acceptance experience find it difficult to accept themselves, others, and their reality as it is even as adults.

When you can accept yourself as you are, the world changes. You can be free from the heavy burdens and pain that you have been unknowingly carrying until now. This is because you can see the inner causes and truths of why you are suffering. When this happens, you connect with the inner self you have been avoiding and can find your true self. It is not an easy task, but it can be said to be the most rewarding work in life. Those who find their true self and know themselves can live the life they want without being swayed by surrounding circumstances or others’ opinions.

“What was it that I disliked so much about myself?” Asking yourself this question is also a dangerous moment. This is because it causes doubts about the things you have confidently done as obvious until now. When doubts arise about the things you thought you had done well, you become fearful and anxious. Now, you begin a journey turning your gaze inward, which had been directed outward, entering your own heart. Questioning yourself is the first step of this journey. This process is not easy. You have to face the parts of yourself you didn’t want to meet and stay within them.

You try to be humble, but at some point, you encounter your arrogant self. But that’s okay. It’s okay to be arrogant. It’s okay to get angry. You just need to know, accept, and mature yourself as you live. In this respect, acceptance is a spiritual struggle. Without daily spiritual struggle, acceptance does not occur. This applies to society, family, and individuals alike. Acceptance is a task of wrestling with oneself, family, society, and humanity. That is why it is a great work. Living like this, there will come a moment when we quietly confess to ourselves:

“I am okay. I truly like who I am now.”

If You Want to Live Well as Your True Self | Written by Kim Yongtae | Denstory | 256 pages | 16,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.