Acceptance

Human beings, as social creatures are subjected to human company for the duration of their lifetime. It cannot be avoided. It begins when the human is born and the first other humans they are introduced to are their parents. Parents nurture, educate, discipline and influence the child. The child’s first sense of identity is formed based on their parent’s opinion and influence. They are young, they are inferior, and they are easily influenced. Nothing is questioned. And then that child grows, they develop independence, knowledge, values and views. They are still inferior, they are still a child, and they are still easily influenced. The child becomes a teenager. They think they are in charge, independent, on the same level, they think they know who they are, they think they know what their identity is, what they must do and become. But they don’t. Some develop a sense of identity and independence faster than others. Some rely on friends to validate their self-worth; some rely on boyfriends/girlfriends. Some are comfortable in their own skin; some feel like they need someone to make their right to exist justified. Why is it that some people cannot build themselves up but need someone else? Why is it that some people are never satisfied with what they have? What do they want? Acceptance. Teenagers, trying to form their identity at the same time are craving acceptance, having one may compromise the other. Which is more important? Loving yourself or being loved? Which gives more satisfaction? Is it ok that you compromise your own wants and needs to please others? Or is it worse that you are not accepted because you choose to be yourself? Why is it so difficult for people to accept others? Why is it so difficult for people to accept themselves? Why is it so difficult to disregard someone else’s criticism yet so easy to dismiss someone else’s praise?

Because we are still young, still inferior and still easy influenced. Yet this time it’s not our parents that will determine who we are and what we do its people like us. It’s people who will compromise self-acceptance for acceptance by peers who will in turn not accept others. It’s people not happy with themselves that pick out the most flaws. It’s people who hate themselves who will hate others. It’s people who have been rejected, mistreated, abused who will reject, mistreat and abuse others. No one treats anyone how they want to be treated. No one will accept anyone when they can’t accept themselves. It all comes down to acceptance, approval, self-worth, satisfaction. Human beings are social creatures; after all, acceptance is the key to survival.