AWARENESS: Become aware of your feelings. Inner
awareness is the beginning of outer change.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Tell a trusted friend or counselor
about your awareness.
ACCEPTANCE: Honor where you are and what you are
feeling. Be gentle with yourself. You are okay just as you
are, even as you seek to change.
The first and most basic step for any change or growth, no matter how small, is to know what we feel, how we think, and how we would like to alter our lives. In other words, we
need to be aware of where we are and where we want to go. It’s then important to acknowledge where we are to someone else. Acknowledgment keeps us honest and helps us break out of denial. When we realistically acknowledge what we have become aware of to ourselves and to a trusted friend, we are more likely to move forward. Finally, acceptance alleviates shame and guilt and helps propel us out of limiting patterns while energizing us for needed change.
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